Off and Away!

Where does one begin to explain how they are not the same person that they were four months ago, but yet still the same person? How to put in words what all has taken place inside me and around me and what my life has been like these last four months. What do I communicate in order to give you a glimpse of what God has walked me through and worked in me these last couple of months. I know that I have posted some of it, but as I have been thinking back I realized how much more I could share! There is so much more of what I have experienced, even on a day to day basis.
I’m actually in bed as I type this, at 1:16am in the morning, Sunday, the day before we leave for our “holiday”. I really should be sleeping, but alas I’m too wired. One of my roomies, Beka and I made some hot apple cider…minus the cider…mainly we used the apple juice that we purchased the other day and poured it into a pan, put caramel syrup and cinnamon and perhaps a little bit of sugar. Yummy. Not too bad. I feel super cozy. Like fall. Today we went on a lovely picnic, the sky was bright blue, with a few white puffy clouds, in the shade it was cool, but in the sun it was perfect, with an ever slightly caressing breeze. We had cheese, crackers, bread, salami, olives, cucumbers, and wine. Oh, nice. Then we went to the park and played on the equipment and felt like kids again, it was quite splendid and a lovely reprieve. Can I just say how blessed I have been getting to live life in this great community. I greatly enjoy every single one of these people here on base.
Since coming here to Scotland, I feel as if I’ve become more alive. I’ve become more comfortable with who I am….me! And that I’m ok with that…most of the time ; )
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So, now it is an hour before we leave for the airport!! What a crazy two days it has been! I’m surprisingly function on little sleep, perhaps adrenaline is helping, that and having a million things to do before we head out! The room is spotless, our bags are packed, and now our bellies our full of wonderful Scottish Breakfast! Such amazing sausage! : ) We’ve had to say several “good-byes, see you in two months”, but then also about to have to say more, but a few are going to be “good-bye, hope to see you again.” Because John and Sarah and their son Bayne are moving back to the States while we are in Turkey. So, hard. I love them dearly and it is hard to say good-bye!
Well, know that we are all excited. Eager. Ready. Pray for safe travels, good health, easy maneuvering of customs, unity, communication, divine appointments, alertness, wisdom, and boldness(wise boldness!), and deep relationships! : )
Off to yet another adventure, full of the great and beautiful unknown! Love you all so dearly, praying for you continuously, missing you greatly, and eager to hear what God does in your life while I’m away. I love that fact that God is with me here in Scotland and my team and going with us to Turkey and at the same time with you all wherever you are! He is truly an awesome Daddy!
Write to you all in two months!

Iona

Iona:
How do I describe the Island of Iona? Breathtaking. Awe inspiring. Deep. Truly a “Thin Place”. I especially experienced these moments when I was are gallivanting in the southern hills or exploring the cliff and caves of the western shores, or watching, on a rock, the sunrise from the northern beach, or star gazing while walking back to the house part of my team was staying at. The week on Iona is not soon to be forgotten in my mind or heart, and not just because of these moments that I mentioned above, but for how much Jesus walked me through and how much I grew in my walk with Him. I love getting to journey life with such a strong, faithful, just, loving, and tender Maker. What a blessing and honor! Oh, how I pray that everyone would know this! What a burden it is on my heart that everyone would come to know our Savior in such a deep and intimate way, and not just for the fact that He saves us from being separated from Him, and that we get to be with Him in Paradise, but it is that and then some! He desires and offers us an opportunity for an incredible and precious relationship with Him. A beautiful dance to such an intricate and heavenly song; an exciting and adventurous story written just for me and Him! And not only to tell people of the fact there is a Savior, but then also to tell people of this relationship who already believe and follow Him. There are too many Believers out there who have settled and grown stagnant and content to just get by, but NO!!! There is much, much more! Such greater depths and heights to explore and travel with Him, if only we press in and take hold of His Hand and accept the challenge of traveling this dangerous and wondrous road of Relationship.
My time on Iona, it was not necessarily a time of physical rest, nor even mental….come to think of it, not even emotional, and not really spiritual either. For I was stretched in all these areas last week while on the Island. Firstly, because of having that Sunday that we were there to explore the Island and I was out all day with some of the team explore and enjoying God’s amazing creation here in Scotland. My goodness, what incredible creativity He has.
Lectures were brilliant. They were on Spiritual Authority and we had the blessing of having Mariette Lowe teach. She is South African, but has made Scotland her home base for the last 15years. She is one scary woman, but absolutely fun! She prays at least 6-7 hours a day, she gets up early stays up late praying and reading the Bible. She has had some amazing experiences, she knows what she is talking about and allow the Holy Spirit to truly lead her what she needs to teach in each class and allows Him to direct her accordingly. She got to some pretty hard issues on all of us, which was good. Specifically, the Fear of Man versus the Fear of God; which one do you tend to live and operate in? Hmmm…..be honest. I know that I’ve operated out of the Fear of Man for as long as I can remember and this has held me back and caused me more pain then it is worth. It is so freeing to realize that I do not have to operate out of the Fear of Man anymore (granted this is a daily thing that I must surrender to and I often fall flat on my face, thank goodness for God’s grace!), but operating out of the Fear of God is so much more powerful! What a difference to know and walk in confidence that God approves me already, but that out of my fear for Him…..fear meaning reverent respect and hate for sin….yes it is okay to HATE sin….that I diligently pursue His truth, grow in His knowledge and wisdom, and work and live my life in this form. Amazingly, we have given such incredible tools that we barely, if ever, use. Think of all of Jesus’ teachings! Think of the Holy Spirit!
Speaking of Whom, He woke me up early, 5:45am, on Tuesday morning to spend some extra special time with Him while watching the sunrise. (Pictures of this incredible sunrise are on my Facebook profile in my Albums under Iona Adventures). I was conversing with Him back and forth and I started to ask about His Faithfulness, because I honestly didn’t know if I really understood it or rather struggled with this Characteristic of His. Then as I looked up into the sky, and to the left of the rising sun, I saw a small portion of a rainbow! I opened right away to my Bible in Genesis about Noah and the Covenant that God made with him…with us. Talk about WOW!! As I was staring at this rainbow that had formed in the sky I couldn’t help, but cry out, “What a great God!!” He does listen, He is present, He is attentive to our hearts’ cry, and He is Faithful! No matter what, good times or bad. I had a continued time of worship and praying and read scripture aloud (by the way I’ve been doing this more, reading the Word of God aloud and you know what? There is something incredibly powerful to it when it is spoken out, it truly makes it a declaration, and then especially if you pray it out! You should try to start incorporating it in your daily quiet time!)Anyways, as I finishing up my time on my rock, I felt the Holy Spirit press upon me that I would be really thankful for my extra special time this morning and the revelations that I had had, because that day I was going to need it. Sure thing. When I got to the cottage I got the hard, but good news that my Papa was in the arms of Jesus. Talk about wow. God is faithful, He knew that I really needed to understand this and truly know it as I faced that day, of having to know that I’m on the opposite side of the world and not able to be with my family during this time so of saying “see you later” and figuring out a new “normalcy” of not having Papa with us on earth. So, my heart hurts because of grieving though not the death of my Grandpa because he is no longer in pain and he is in heaven in a fully restored body, but rather my heart hurts with grieving the loss, knowing that it’s going to be awhile til I get to have a conversation with my Grandpa again. It has been such a blessed journey with the Holy Spirit to discover and experience His faithfulness in such greater depths. Thank goodness that He is a God of comfort and compassion.
This last week was on Cross-Cultural Missions and Communications. Great stuff. Necessary, and good. I think I have been made to travel into other cultures, for I love learning and discovering about other people groups and their traditions. For several reasons, but the main one being that it helps me to be aware of what my culture is and it takes me out of it and allows me to be a lot more holistic in my thinking and approach to life. Which is good and necessary. It helps me to make sure not to grow too comfortable, but to appreciate how I’ve lived, how I’ve grown up, but then to learn to appreciate others cultures as well! Even living here in Scotland for the last three months has been absolutely amazing for this! Thank goodness for modern day technology and easier ability for travel, because coming here has further embedded this in me!
Continue to pray for me and my team as we prepare to leave for Turkey in just two weeks! We are greatly needing it!

After and such

Much has been going on these last two weeks since getting back from Edinburgh. We jumped right back into to normal schedule, with group Celtic prayers, lectures, work projects, intercession, and the like, but then also we had to prep for VBS that we did this whole last week in the evenings. So, we’d have normal schedule in the days, but then we’d go to do VBS at night! It was a great full week; I was in charge of the story time or rather “Bible Voyage Adventure” it was a lot of fun, though quite a bit of work. The kids were great, the week I believe was successful and God will and is doing amazing work in these kids’ lives. It is almost scary how quickly kids pick up things and remember! It makes one stop and think what one says, because they sure are listening, watching, and ready to do it to.
Lectures have been stupendous. Last week was on Identity, Destiny and Calling. AWESOME! Here is a basic for you; God made you. He loves you for you. He likes us. I’m not just talking about looks, but about your personality, your talents, your skills, abilities, passions, desires, hopes, dreams. He’s given us all distinct and unique callings. I whole heartedly believe that I’m called to be very non-traditional. To expect the unexpected with my life and to sit back and enjoy the ride with God walking right along with me! I know this seems basic, but perhaps remind yourself. Or, perhaps really stop and think about it a moment and determine if you have been living your life, operating your decisions or how you think of yourself or what you are capable of by having this mentality. That you are special and important and not just another human being on this huge planet. But you. Me. Are vital. Walk in it. Be bold in it. Delight in it. I’m not a mistake and He has a calling for me, the first one being walk with Him and listen to His heart beat…for me (you)! There is so much more that I could say that I learned and took from this week, but instead I quickly mention this week’s lecture which was equally as brilliant it was called “Plumb line”. Talking about what have you allowed to build your wall, and how vital it is to allow God to be my plumb line because on how it can affect all aspects of my life if I don’t have the right wall built and in the right way.
A week ago today I became an Aunt for the third time however I have a nephew now! Myles Alan Wicks. 8ilbs 9oz 20 inches! He is so very handsome! I got to meet him today on Skype and I’m in love. What a miracle. What magic it is to see such a little bundle and fall so in love with him! Amy is doing well and his older sisters are loving being big sisters.
Today, I’m leaving for Iona with just my DTS team and leaders. Iona is where the Celtic Christians came from, there was/is a monastery there where they sent many missionary monks into the nation: it is the birthplace Christianity for this nation. We are all very excited. We will be having lecture there (on Spiritual Warfare), we will be having a day of Solitude (which I’m very excited about) and then just resting and getting to process, which there is plenty to do of that with all the last couple of weeks and three months. Can you believe that it has already been three months!? I can’t. Oh, so good. What an amazing three months it has already been and I get another three more!
I can’t wait to report back to you some of my adventures and encounters with God while I’m there. Keep me and the team in your prayers not just for safe travel and health, but also that God would truly work in my heart and in the hearts of my team mates. That He would renew us body, mind, and soul and that He would cultivate in our hearts and lives the key things that He needs us to get and develop! Also, for revelation and direction for our(my) past, present, and future! I love you all!

Edinburgh

I can’t believe that it has been a month since I last posted an update on here! When I got back from Edinburgh, I had so much to share that I didn’t know where to start. And so much to process that I hadn’t even finished thinking through that I didn’t know what to share!
Can I just say how incredible blessed I am to be here in Paisley, Scotland. I live in Scotland is such a wonderful thing to say and wake up to!
Let me do this update on Edinburgh! It was amazing! A crazy, wonderful two weeks, filled with tons of walking, learning, praying, stretching, spiritual “war- faring”, cooking, fellowshipping, exploring, and creating!
As I had mentioned previous, we (my DTS team and a few other staff members of the house) went to Edinburgh, which is about an hour’s drive from the house, to serve at Shine which is an outreach that works to be involved within the “Fringe” Festival, the world’s largest performing arts festival. I will start off that I absolutely love Edinburgh (pronounced: Edin-bur-ougha, but of course run-together). Beautiful city, the history, the architecture, the creativity, the set-up, the people, the life, the buildings, the rhythm of everyone/everything, is amazing. There is such life and light there, as well as darkness and heaviness. We definitely encountered some spiritual warfare, especially the first week that we were there. Our DTS was there to be apart of Shine, and we were the cook team and as well as the Media team.
Shine, is a two outreach that takes during the Fringe Festival (the World's Largest Arts Festival) and Shine is a way to bring in several Christian Artist from all over the world and perform within the Fringe Festival and do special outreach events and also they run a kids performing arts camp. YWAM Edinburgh started this years ago, they try and get all of YWAM Scotland to be involved, but so far it is just our Paisley base that participates. Some of the artist this year that came was a band called Anchor of Hope that were a Screamo/heavy metalish Christian band from Florida and they are on tour with a ministry that helps raise awareness of Human Trafficking, they were they the first full week. Then we had a team from South Africa that were a dance and singing group, phenomenal dancers, they didn't arrive until the second week. Then we had a team from 24-7 house of Prayer from Portland, Washington the last full week where they were running a room for 24-7 prayer for the city and Shine and Fringe Festival. There was the band Trelese, they are the worship band for Amy and Spencer's church in Kansas City....they were my favorite! They would of course lead worship for us sometimes, but then when they were "Busking" or performing in the clubs/pubs they were more of a easy rock/listening band with fun and funky songs to dance to. I loved them because of how non-cheesy they were. They were talented artists who happened to be Christians! They would easily have a group of 100-200 people watching and listening when they were "busking". They would interact with audience, they formed friendships, they partnered with some of the other "buskers" that were performing before or after them, they made cookies and handed them out while they were playing. The presence of God was heavily upon them and I loved watching them and learning oh so much from them! That you can actually have quality in your art and be a Christian and not be oober-preachy or showy about it. Just live it.
Well, we helped feed all these teams as well as the staff of Shine so because of the staggering of people coming and going we would have about 50 people max at a time, but I think it was about 100 people or so that were involved in these last two weeks with Shine.
Cooking went well, it was a bit crazy at times because our sleeping/living space was the universal meeting area for everyone! The kitchen and the big open space were connected and people would come with their stuff and practice there or just hang out there...which was great I loved it, but sometimes a bit overwhelming with all the noise at times. When we weren't on cook team or in the kitchen we were doing media stuff. Which this was the first year that they had a media team so it was a huge learning curve on everyone’s end of things, but the fact that it was the first year, I think we did great! We got some great footage that Raj, is going to be working on as well as photos and some of us made some videos that we posted...one that Kelsey and I made with a few of the others..."what's your beat?" and it was fun! Challenging. Here is the link for you to watch some of these videos...and yes there is one on there that is of me crying like a baby...lol. http://www.youtube.com/user/ShineConnect#p/u/3/H4gGwloL12E. These will be used for promos and stuff for Shine.
During these two weeks, I learned a lot about myself and the time there really helped d my DTS team and helped to understand one another better and taught us ways on how we can function as a healthy team! God taught me a lot, but two basic things were this: Make the most of every opportunity and to be truly content in whatever the circumstance…..by me saying that He has taught me these lesson does not mean that I ignorantly think that I have them mastered, but to say that I was always aware we needed to have this, but He has revealed it to me in a different way and it is something that I am praying into and seeking it in my mind and heart-set.

The Heart of the Matter

News Flash: We are going to Turkey for our “Extended Special Excursion for 6-8 weeks”!! I’m so very excited, I truly believe this is where God has and is directing us. We just don’t know all where specifically we will be going, but it is looking like it will include Selçuk (modern-day Ephesus), and Istanbul. Pray for continued wisdom and clarity, that God would open and close the doors that need to be opened and closed! : ) That He would prepare our hearts and mindset for what He desires us to do while we are there! We will leave the end of September, so of course I will be letting you know more details as soon as I find out!
This week’s lecture was on Our Daddy: Father Heart of God.
Yet another week where I’ve received so much and am going to be processing and working in my heart, mind, and soul this next week and for the rest of my life! But please take a moment today and just pause. Be still. Just be in His Presence and talk with Him. Imagine you climbing right next to Him on the couch and snuggling up in His safe, warm arms. Isn’t it the loveliest place to be. He loves us doing this, He desires us to have a relationship with Him where we have this healthy respect, fear, reverence for Him, but also I believe He wants us to see how much He cherishes us and longs to just hang-out and chat. Let us face it, it all really boils down is relationship, that is what life is about, relationship with our Heavenly Father. I could write probably 20 pages from all the notes that I took from class, but I won’t. I won’t be able to do it justice how my heart-set has changed, in such a good and healthy way. How wonderful, that we worship God, who is the Creator of the Universe, Who resides in us, and who is our Daddy. He’s there to comfort, nurture, discipline, hang-out, dream, talk (that means pausing and listening too), and discuss, and cuddle up against. He loves us unconditionally, He has forgiven us all of our sins, He casts them far away, as far as the east is to the west. He doesn't hold anything against us. I know this seems basic, but really it is good to be reminded of this, for this is vital. God has gone to great lengths since the beginning (Read Exodus for a reminder of all that He did for the Israelite people and then of course the Gospels) for us to be in a relationship with Him. He doesn’t force it upon us, but wants us to want it as much as He does! I love that. If you want an incredible book to read and give you a better and deeper understanding into our Daddy’s heart, read “My Father’s Heart” by Mike Oman (He was our lecturer) Brilliant.
Up and coming! Well, this Friday we, the DTS team are heading to Edinburgh for two weeks to work with/for “Shine” which is a ministry that has been going on for about 12 years . It is a YWAM outreach that participates in the “Fringe” Festival, which is the largest arts festival in the world (Has things like: Children’s shows, Comedy, Dance & Physical Theatre, Events, Exhibitions, Music, Musicals & Opera, and Theatre). And performances take place all over the city, in the streets, in coffee shops, in pubs, in alleys, and local businesses. Well known artists come, as well as the unknown that are hoping to get discovered! Shine exists to integrate itself in and amongst the festival whether it be thru performers, techies, to people who are serving the performers and groups,to prayer walking; the goal is really just being serving evangelists. We specifically are going to serve those who are in Shine by providing meals for them as well as work in Shine, by being the film and photography crew! I’m so very excited, not only because it is an arts festival and we are going to be doing outreach through servicing and through friendship, but the fact that the arts are functioning as a way to bring people from ALL over the world in one location!! It is truly uniting the nations through the arts!! I’m stoked! I can’t wait to report back to you all about it, I know I’m going to be in for endless adventures while I’m there!
Be praying for safety for us. We will be driving out at 6 tomorrow morning to Edinburgh, and then hitting the floor running! We are staying on a churches floor and will be on our feet all day, running around the city, so pray specifically for stamina and endurance. But also, that we stay alert and in-tune for divine appointments and God opportunities! And for unity amongst us as a team and us working with people from all over the world!
Thank you again and again, as always, for your faithful prayer and support! Please write me and let me know how life is going for you and what things I can pray for you about!

People OF Paisley

People.
I like people. I’m a people person I’ve determined, and I have come to love yet more! The people of Paisley; how I love them. The people of Scotland are some amazing individuals, their tenacity, their fiery spirit, and their ability to speak whatever, and I truly mean whatever, is on their mind!
I’ve been praying for a heart for these people and this nation to develop even more strongly in me and even ability to understand some of them through their thick brogues and God has and is granting this. Every Wednesday we (the people at the base and I) fast (whatever of our choice) if we feel led, and pray for the city of Paisley.
There is a great deal to pray for and see change in this area, as is the case for any and every city. These Scottish men and women are amazing and have such incredible minds, gifts, and abilities, but they have such a spirit of defeat for themselves and have no vision or hope for the future and hate their city and they think that Scotland isn’t that great. Well, the staff here at Stanely house thought of this idea: P.I.G. = Paisley is Great. Where we once a month, or sometimes more, go to the town square memorial and grill sausages and give them away. To just brighten their day and say that we think Paisley is great and hope that they can be reminded of this and see it too. People’s response to this is fun, one they get delighted to find out that there are free sausages! They then hear us say that we love Paisley and they then think we are crazy! They think we are crazier for thinking Paisley is great then for handing out free sausages. This is funny. However, after they say that they think that we are crazy for being Americans who think that Paisley is wonderful, they pause, they smile at us and say “Cheers” (“Thank you”) and they walk away with a new spring in their step and shake their heads in wonder if whether or not we are sane! : ) Don’t worry we are. We just are eager to work in the opposite spirit that the people of Paisley operate in. We want to bring them joy and remind them that there are things about their city and their country is great! And not give into the negative spirit of despair and hatred. God’s love, hope, and creativity is what we want to bring. The teens especially need this! Just talking with them they can’t wait to get out of this city, but they don’t see how it is possible and they seem to be afraid to dream big because they don’t think it is possible.
This last Saturday there was a wonderful Pipe Band Festival, it was a competition to go onto the world championships. This was phenomenal, the music of course send chills up my spine and makes my heart beat with pure joy, but it was insightful peek into the people as well. There was such an excitement amongst the people that were hearing and watching Bag Pipe Bands marching down the road to the town square, in their clan tartan and the rest of the traditional garb. There was this sense of ownership in the air, whether they would admit it or not, they do have pride in their heritage and nation, I think they just need to be reminded of it. However, I think that it is not just a problem of reminding them of what a great country they live in and come from and being confident in their “national identity”. It goes much deeper than this. I think it has all to do with the people finding their identity in the real identity giver: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.This is something for all of us to remember, that no matter where we live, no matter what current political or economic times we live in we must rest secure in the fact that we find our value, worth and identity in God, and God alone. This is something that we hope to give them a glimpse of when we hand them a sausage or are walking into or around town and as we give them a smile or nod a hello; that they see a peace and a love radiating out of us that is not coming out of us by our own strength or will-power, but by the One who resides in us.

Star Breather and Turkey?

This last week was on the Holy Spirit, and this is where you definitely should expect the unexpected, for this is the way this week went.
I’m not even sure what to say except, take a moment and dwell on the fact that the Star Breather resides in you. How does that or does it affect the way you would or do live? The fact that we find all our power in the Creator of the Universe and He resides in us; He is personal and knows us with such intimate detail, better than we know ourselves. Think on this. Because I think this changes how we view our troubles that we may face or are facing or a situation that we need wisdom and insight in. You have the Holy Spirit and He is right there. What a comforting and scary thought all at the same time!

Had a very full week this week, but it has been very wonderful! I’ve loved getting to just relax a bit today and just chill and reflect and hang out with my roommates and other house mates today. We had pancakes and tea/coffee, and bagels. Thankfully I worked out this morning. Hahaha!

Be praying for me as I have a big “Express” time to be preparing of this Monday night, it is supposed to be a 10-12 minute message/teaching/testimony/preaching/evangelism thing….we can choose this week or we can do something on the Holy Spirit whatever we feel like God wants us to share. I have something roughly prepared, but I’m needing an extra burst of inspiration and courage. It has been a really good thing to be forced to prepare these messages and have these ready for outreach and then to just have the experience of sharing in front of a group, but it can sometimes be stressful! So, just pray that I'm not stressed by it, but blessed by it! : )

Also, we as a team for we have been having some great times of intercession and seeking God’s heart on where He wants us to go for our outreach. About three weeks in a row we kept getting some similar visions/pictures and words that have directed us to investigate Turkey as our outreach location. Our team leaders have sent out emails and put calls into just getting some further information on it and contacts and different things so now we are just waiting. This is NOT for sure, we are still really open, we really want to go where God wants us and needs us to go, so we are still seeking confirmation and insight, so be praying for wisdom, visions, and clarity for us all a whole and as individuals! I’m right now in neutral state of mind and heart on the subject, I’m really open and willing to go where He wants us!
I think that is it! Please email me or write me letters just so I can hear how life is going for you all! Or if you have any prayer requests I will pray for you and let the others know (if you want) so we all can pray for you collectively! Love you and missing you all.

Expecting the Unexpected

Evangelism Week: Not what I was expecting.

You would think with all my life experience and what I have lived through that I would learn to expect the unexpected, well I guess I haven’t yet, because last week was completely not what I was expecting. But wow! You would think that someone couldn’t keep growing and learning and changing and be challenged so much in several weeks time, well you can! How blessed I am to be here in Paisley, Scotland! I wake up every morning and 9 times out of 10 I wake up thinking, “Lord, thank you for bringing me here! How blessed I am to get to learn and discover more of You and me and our relationship and getting to do it here in Paisley Scotland! And to be placed with such incredible women and men of God!” I truly am spoiled with the community here, we can be real with each other, push each other to do better, we pull the best out of one another, which is always a good thing! : )

The fun story about this week (not this last week, but the week before) was that they (DTS leadership) had such a problem with getting a lecturer for this week, they had one but then they cancelled…and the same thing happened three other times, until finally they got Ed Ravenhall, which was completely God. What a powerful and solid individual. His passion and his sensitivity were almost breathtaking that those two traits could meld so well! He got me thinking, between his stories of he and his wife’s adventures and missions experiences to his whole approach to evangelism and his honesty about his mistakes and success over the years was really refreshing.
There were several thoughts and challenges that I encountered from his teaching. One was how there is a lot of bad evangelism that has gone on and is going on and the effects of this are three things: 1). Superficial understanding, 2) Lack of “Lordship” 3). ‘Comfy Christians’. We are not giving people the whole message! There are two parts, The Cross Gospel and the Kingdom of God Gospel. (Cross Gospel: All have sinned and deserve punishment, Jesus died to take our punishment, Repent accept free gift salvation, and Jesus live in us and we live with Him forever. Which using this message is fine and must be told in order for people to understand their need of salvation, but not if you just leave it by itself. Because if you do just tell them without the second half, you just get people with limited understanding which lends itself to having a lack of relationship with their Savior and develops apathetic church goers. The Cross Gospel must be paired with the message that Jesus taught: Kingdom of God: where the rule and reign of God is paramount and it is within us and without(outside) us in society. The kingdom of God is a call to war not comfort! I could keep going on this one, but hopefully it has made you think just as it has done for me. I hope and pray that we can see a change in not only missions/evangelism work, but in just the Body of Christ: Church, globally. Perhaps this is not only something to pray for, but also to incorporate ourselves! Have you gotten too comfortable lately? As Ed put it, “Churches have gotten too comfortable and have made a peace treaty with the Devil that they can just sit and maintain their church and he can have the city. This is WRONG!” Hmmm…makes you think.

Another thought that was interesting: Your Maturity should always be greater than your Ministry. If they are ever even or your Ministry is greater than your Maturity then you are in trouble. Maturity meaning your relationship with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and your knowledge of the Word and general life experience and it is a process it is not something that with the snap of your fingers you can get. It is discipleship, which is greatly lacking in the Church and in schooling, we send men and women off to “do ministry” without them actually having the appropriate tools to “do it” with! “Character vs. Calling” as Ed put it, “What you are should be more important than what you do in life, especially when it comes to evangelism and ministry.” Without that Maturity you will find yourself way over your head and will find yourself on slippery ground, because you tend to rely on your “good ideas” instead of having that intimate relationship with God where His ideas become yours! This was such a good word of wisdom and insight, I just thought I’d share. We must also know the Word inside and out, otherwise we are a power tool without a battery charger or an extra battery.

And one more thought to leave you with, that hit hard for me. Where does your loyalty lie? What or Who has your first loyalty(ies)? Answer SHOULD be that your loyalty and identify is in Jesus Christ our Lord. However, is it?!?! I thought it was, but when I was asked this question the Holy Spirit convicted me. Especially, since my personality tends to see loyalty is an expression of love…love is loyalty…at least to me (This is from the Motivational Giftings book and lecture). So when I realized that my first loyalty was not in nor to God it was like a punch in the stomach. My loyalty was to my family, though this can be viewed as not a bad thing nor a big, however it is!! Because it should one, I did not trust God enough to give my family to Him to take care of them and two I spout off on how much I love God and trust Him with my life, but yet I was unwilling to trust Him with the very thing that is close and dear to my heart! If I’m going to live my life for Him, I must have this in balance. It MUST be God first, He must hold my first call to loyalty and everything else is a side thing. He is Lord, He is God, He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, He is Savior, Friend and Lover. We/I must get my priorities in order. Perhaps this isn’t a big revelation for you or a new thought, but it certainly made me stop and reexamine my heart and mindset. What has first place in your heart or life, it can be anything from small to big, just realize when you figure what it is and if it isn’t God first you have to get down to business and let it go and reorient your perspective! It is hard, perhaps painful, I know it was for me and it will be a continuous life process for me, but it is pleasing to Him and that makes it worth it!

On the other elements of the week, we have a missions team from Georgia a team of 15, ages 15-18 year olds and their two 20something leaders. Here for a total of two and half weeks, so we have had a house with about 45 people in the house, so yes. (Showering is almost comical with only three for the girls and three for the guys, we’ve all just learned to shower at anytime of the day whenever they are free or when you have a free moment! Lol) But we have loved having them here! They have been a hoot and a great help and encouragement. They’ve helped with P.I.G, with Create, with a homeless ministry in Glasgow and done cleaning up of litter in Paisley, and prayer walking. It has been good! Other than that just our normal routine of lecture, creative worship, pottering time inside and then pottering time with our outside projects, Create, and iCreate, intercession for where we are going to go on outreach, film and theology nights, roommate adventures, one-on-one times, kitchen duty, laundry, “connect” time, morning office, and group prayer times, and random talking sprees! I am blessed!! : ) I wish you all could come and see the house and this incredible city and countryside landscape and meet all the wonderful people here and for them to meet you!!

Lindisfarne

Lindisfarne: Holy Island: Blue Skies, sand, flowers, castle, church ruins, friends, ocean, God moments= bliss.
What a blessing this time on the Island was especially having been so sick. I think the sea side helped with the healing ; ) Well, no actually I think it was all the praying. I finally ate my first meal that Wednesday morning…kind of and then ate a full meal on Wednesday night. WONDERFUL!! : )
We were there on the Island from Tuesday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. We had lecture on the early Celtic Christians by a famous historian and expert on the subject and we got to learn more about St. Cuthbert as well as St. Aiden! It was wonderful, especially since we had just walked their path that they used to work within the country side and go back and forth from Melrose Abby to Lindisfarne. They were incredible Christians men! They didn’t believe in evangelizing by getting in people’s faces, but by just living life with the community and putting into practice what God’s Word says and by following Jesus’ example with the way He lived on this earth. How important it is for us to remember this; for it is not about going out in the streets nor do you have to go to some overseas place, but start with just saying hello to your neighbor or being their for a co-worker, get involved with people! I know this is a risk, but this is our purpose to live out the Gospel, not hoard it nor shove it and cram it down people’s throats….not that there isn’t or won’t be a time for actually speaking of the Gospel for there is and will be, but the way in which our society is we must live it out first! So, I challenge you, how are you living your daily, “mundane” life? Have you sought out non-Christian friends in your social circle? Have you fully incorporated God’s Word in your life, is it seen in the way that you are living? I know that I’m challenged with these questions! I pray and hope to be forever being an active Christ follower by living and not just speaking it!
We of course had our three days of lecture as well. Life changing is the best word to describe it. It was on Motivational Gifts and very, very, very insightful and helped me just to further discover how God and who God has created me to be! I really can’t fully describe all that it is or how or why the lecture impacted me, but it did! Andy Raine (the lecturer) was fantastic, he is a British version of Ben Paisley. He wrote a book on Motivational Giftings, called “Given for Life: A guide to motivational gifts. I’m not sure if you can get it on the American Amazon, but I know that you can on the UK one….amazon.co.uk….it is completely worth it and I would say could be equally life changing to not only know yourself better, but as well as your spouse, or friends or family members or coworkers!
We also got to go exploring on the island and have time to just spend time with one another and play a bit, which was needed for all! It truly was a time for me to get physically restored as well as get emotionally, mentally, spiritually challenged and reassured! I wish you all could have seen it and been there. It was beautiful.

The Trek!

The Trek

How can I find all the words to begin to explain all that has transpired in the last two weeks of my life physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally!? I didn’t think it was possible to change and grow so much in just two weeks time, but it goes to be reminded that with God anything is possible.
So, this is how I begin my tale of my adventures: “Oh be careful what prayers you pray, because God is in the business of answering them!”
Friday, June 25th, we hit the road to drive to Melrose, Scotland to start the St. Cuthbert’s Way Trek, early that morning. There were 11 of us doing this Trek: John Wilson (He and his wife Sarah are the DTS leaders…however his wife didn’t go as she had to of course stay with their 14month old son) then there was Danielle-“Ding”, Geoffry, Theo (Celtic Way Intern), Anna (Staff: Head of Kitchen and Internship), and then of course the DTS students (in order of age: oldest to youngest:
Corbin, Kelsy, Beka, Cerina, and Sarah(British)) So, we hiked about 8 miles that first day and found an awesome campsite right on the trail in a nook of trees right next to a river: beautiful. We had our ramen and sausages for dinner, we got a good night sleep with our natural noise maker aiding to our dreams. A funny note, was that I’ve determined to pray for me to be healed of my cursed sleep talking, for I have been doing so much of it while I’m here…or at least I guess I could have been doing it for a long time it’s just that I haven’t shared a room in some time so I just haven’t anyone witness to me doing it. Anyway, that night I had dreamed that I was in trouble or stuck or something and I was yelling passionately and desperately for help….well, I was tangled by my sleeping bag and my face was pressed up against the tent and I was saying help like a drunk 90 year old lady. My tent mate Beka, sat up and asked me what was wrong and I woke up then and said nothing my face was just in the side of the tent and went back to bed. LOL!! However, the next morning I had hoped that it hadn’t really happened, however someone asked if someone had heard someone crying out for help….well then I had to confess!! So, funny and so embarrassing all at the same time...it is of course never going to be forgotten so now we all use a fun joke say “Help. Help me.” In a groggily and drunk kind of voice. It’s funny.
Saturday was a great day! It was hard at times. We hiked a total of 18 miles that day. That morning as we were walking along I had some good quiet time just dwelling on some scriptures that I had copied down on some note cards and then just conversing and seeking God and feeling so close to Him as I was hiking along and in the midst of nature. A cool thing happened that day. During that time that I was talking back and forth with God I was asking Him for clarity and direction for my future. Like Him breaking through the clouds and speaking to me clearly and directly with what, where, when and how for my life. That afternoon we had stopped for a few minutes, and then when we got going again, my eyes started burning and then it turned into like my eyes were being stabbed with hot pokers, whether I blinked or kept them open. I was pretty much struck blind! I had to hang onto the strap of Anna or Beka for about a half-an-hour or so. Finally, we stopped and they prayed for me, and then Theo piped up saying that he had some eye drops, would I like some….ummm…yes please. Got them in, and after a few minutes so much better! I was able to get along without the guidance from any of my friends. Such a relief. Well, I had a revelation. God answered my prayers about direction for my life it just wasn’t the answer I was expecting: interdependence on and in Him. That I need to throw away my pride, grab ahold His hand and walk step by step with Him leading the way. Because without Him I am and will be blind and won’t be able to walk the path before me without someone leading the way, and the best Trail Guide will lead the way if I just surrender to His expert direction! : )
That night we found an awesome campsite in the midst of these awesome woods and we were surprised by a lovely meal of lasagna, salad, bread and strawberry meringue dessert. Provided by sweet Katherine and her husband Wade (she was our first week lecturer). They hiked down into our camp site and brought us dinner! It was such a treat after hiking 18 miles that day. Sweet bliss. “Little did I know…” (Stranger than Fiction anyone?!), I had been asleep for about an hour and I woke up not feeling the greatest…..long story short….I ended up throwing up about 30 times within 10 hours time. M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E. After I got sick the first time, I was up for about an hour or so and then I was feeling ok, so then I went back to bed for an hour at most….which by the way being sick and camping are very inconvenient especially when you’re trying to quietly get out of your tent=impossible. Anyways, on my way up the path to get away from the campsite, I notice Sarah sitting and reading, didn’t think too much of it however because I was busy getting up the path so I could puke my guts out again. Well, after I had my go of it, I was sitting and resting up against a tree, contemplate on a scale of 1 to 10 how miserable I was, but also praising God that at least I was throwing up and not having problems on the other end of things. Then I was also thinking that at least I was the only one sick I would be able to get through it and press on, when these stupid thoughts were passing through my tired and pain riddled mind, I see a flash light coming up the path and hear this soft crying, I have officially labeled it a “mercy, misery” cry. It was Sarah, I was worried about her and feared that I had disturbed her so I crawled/walked down to her and I asked her what was wrong, and in her sweet British accent saying that she had been worried about me because she had heard me earlier and just now and that she wasn’t feeling well herself and then she promptly turned to the right and threw up. Well. I led her gently up the path to the tree that I had befriended and we sat down contemplating our plight…then I got sick….then I sat down again. She wanted to wake someone, I didn’t want to bug anyone, since I figured that “what could they do?”, but since Sarah was sick too, I figured I guess we better make one of the leaders aware of the situation. Poor “Ding” she was up the rest of the night with us. She got our sleeping mates and sleeping bags and she witnessed me in my worst state, moaning in a fetal position, or sitting rocking back and forth with my head on my knees and the kneeling forward getting sick behind a tree, then she would stroke my hair and prayed and sang over me. (Sarah got sick one more time) But then we finally drifted off to sleep for an hour or two. I was the most pathetic, disgusting mess that was left with no dignity at this point. I woke up with Ding looking worriedly at me and asking me how I was doing, and then John came over. I truly was mortified in being in such a position, of being so pathetically miserable. I felt so bad about being sick on this trek, and he was so very reassuring. I was obviously in no condition to go hiking that day. However, we still had to trek about a mile or so up to a road where Sarah and I could get picked up by Corbin. It was the hardest and most agonizing mile that I have ever had to hike. Corbin picked us up (he had been sick twice during the day on Saturday and has some other health problems, so he stayed at Katherine and Wade’s house where one of our cars were parked, so he then had the vehicle in which to pick us up with) I was completely drained and not feeling the greatest at this point, I got in the car and drove the rough dirt road for all of three minutes and had Corbin quickly pull over and thank goodness I was able to open the car door; he then determined that I needed to go to the hospital after that. So, we did. All they told me was if I didn’t get better I was to come back and she prescribed me some anti-nausea medicine, which was useful. We then went to the store…we looked like a bunch of Zombies on drugs….got the prescription filled, bought a bag of ice (best .99P that I ever spent in my life) and then a bottle of water and sprite and cups. I then proceeded to suck on the ice all that afternoon and evening. We then had to hang about the camp site that the team was going to trek because we had the money bag and some other of their supplies, at this point they were all hoping that we’d camp with them and then continue to trek the next day, but alas the Dr. had told me that I wasn’t supposed or rather shouldn’t continue on. With that news I was very, very disappointed. Anyway, at the camp site we decided that Corbin would drive us 2 ½ hours back to Stanely House and stay there until Tuesday morning. Just so we could get rest and recoup. We puttered back home, and promptly got “tucked” in bed by Sandra and left with cups and numbers to call if we needed anything. Then slept for 12 hours. Thankfully.
As you can imagine when I woke up I was still physically not well, but then I was plagued with such disappointment in myself. I had been looking so forward to this trek and the challenges it was going to have in store…I got challenges, just not the ones I was envisioning. You see, this is yet another instance where it is proven, “Oh be carefully little mouth what you pray.” Because just on that Friday morning, I was praying that God would really keep me and make me humble…..I guess I hadn’t realized how much pride He needed to work out of me! For I was completely helpless and couldn’t rely on my own physical strength, I wasn’t going to be able to finish the trek and say that “I” had completed such an incredible feat. I hadn’t realized what such an independent person I was until this trek, I guess it was something that God wanted to show me and correct in me, for He made a point to work it in my life during this trek! I’m doing much better, but I know that I will be continuously surrendering it. I had lost all my dignity with getting sick in front of all my team mates and not getting to finish the whole trek with them. I was stripped of my pride, but also of my self-image...in a good way. There is all sorts of things that God further worked on me from this time, and is still working in me, I don’t think I will soon forget it.
Alas, we (Corbin, Sarah, and I) drove back over and down into east England to meet up with the team, where they trekked right outside of Lindisfarne, Holy Island (The Island is called Lindisfarne, the town on that Island is called Holy Island). Where we had a sweet reunion, I had missed my fellow team-mates so very much, and thankfully it was mutual! We hiked the last mile or so with them…it was slow go, but we made it! It absolutely beautiful getting to walk on the “bottom of the ocean” before the tide came in and made it an Island once again!
I have pictures on facebook of the parts of the trek that I was on! 
The time on the Island is for a whole other post, which I will make it separate….coming soon!

Sunshine, Dancing, and Revelations

It was officially 20 days ago that I was packing up my last minute things and getting the rest of the details together before I was heading for the airport, to get on a plane that would eventually bring me here! (Like that run-on?) What a journey it has been so far. It has seemed that I have spent a life-time here, for it doesn’t seem possible to have learned, grown, and been stretched so much physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in just 20 days time. Also, how I feel so at home here in this city and at Stanely house and how quickly we girls have bonded in my room and with the staff of the DTS. Such a blessing. I almost feel guilty for getting to partake of such a rich experience… almost.
Hmmm….to fill you in these last 7 days since I last posted something. Well, lets start with where I left off. Katherine finished up her lecture on Thursday, A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y incredible!! What a blessing it was to get fed by her God-given wisdom, experiences, and insights! She taught on the Character and Nature of God and truly beautiful! What a multi-dimensional God we love and worship! Our poor human minds can’t fully grasp ALL of His dimensions, but He has blessed us with His Word and our hearts and souls to be able to munch and process and slightly fathom His greatness! : ) One of the great ways that she put it was that God is a god of Love….we all of course have heard this….but then of out of that love stem His other Characteristics: His faithfulness, His grace, His joy, His creativity, His Justice….the list goes on, but see on how these are attributes of His love…..because He loves you, He is faithful. Because He loves the poor and the broken hearted His Justice will follow thru in His timing. All of these attributes of His Love apply to every single person. I love that God is an emotional God, He has the pureness of all emotions. So whenever we think that our hearts might break and that surely God cannot understand that, think again. He does feel it, but magnify that times infinity, for He is such a HUGE, MASSIVE God…He has to be if He created the Universe with such magnitude….that He then feels things deeply. These are just thoughts that I’ve been pondering that have helped and are going to continue to help me to put things in a better perspective. To have the balance of knowing that God is so massive and in control, yet so very intimate and personal to know the very thoughts on my heart and mind!! News flash….He knows you to, deeply and thoroughly, better than you know yourself. I find this scary and comforting all at the same time. Well, I could keep going onto all the other things that lecture got me thinking on, but it would take too long and my pathetic words would not do my heart or mind justice of all that is whirling in there! : )
So, onto events! : ) Last Friday was a full day. We had to have our doctors check-up, so we now are officially “covered” under the UK healthcare system, since we are 6month residents! Cool-beans. : ) We had to have our weight, height, blood-pressure, and waist-size recorded and forms filled out of past medical history and what we are allergic to! Fun! Wasn’t bad at all really. Then we had house clean….which takes about four hours with all 15 of us working on it, it is fun and gives us all a sense of ownership and pride in keeping the house in excellent condition. I also have kitchen duty that day with two staff girls so we get lunch ready. And then every Friday afternoon will involve an outreach/event of some kind. Last week was P.I.G….. “Paisley Is Great”….where we take a portable BBQ to the town center war memorial and hand out free sausages for three hours or until they are all gone….which I guess we do about 300-400 sausages. We interacted with a variety of people: young-old, street-roamers, prostitutes, businessmen, druggies, young moms and dads, teens, rich and poor. When asked why we were doing this, we just said that some of have lived here for awhile and some of us just moved here and we think that Paisley is great and beautiful and we want to help pass on reminder, so we figured we’d hand out sausages as a way to bright up there day! This is huge, though it doesn’t sound like it, but the people here have this mentality that nothing is good here, that it is a horrible place to live and they feel stuck and trapped. So, we are just trying to work and present in the opposite spirit, because truly Paisley is great, it is scenically beautiful, the people are beautiful, and the city is beautiful! (Every Wednesday, we all fast breakfast and lunch and pray specifically for the city and people of Paisley, and then we break it at dinner time, I urge you to join us and not necessarily for Paisley….which you can….but perhaps for your home city….every city has a unique oppressive spirit/stronghold to it…perhaps pray for God to reveal what that is to you….just a thought! And it doesn’t have to be food….it could be your phone, computer, or something that is of importance to you that would be good to remove for a couple hours in order to show your willingness to do what it takes and seek God’s face without distraction…though sometimes I think a growling stomach can be pretty distracting…lol…as right now my stomach is letting out a huge rumble)
Anywho….then some of us…me be one…took the girl to the Nazarene Church that has allowed us to use it for the group that we call “Create” which I think I explained before, it is not a “church” youth group. It is more of a group run by Christ followers and have invited kids from junior high age to late teens to come and have a safe-non-alcohol/drug free environment. Once a month we have a bunch of the kids who have bands and/or are a one man/woman show and perform and we have a continuous flow of band concerts for about 3 ½ to 4 hours. The Gospel is never preached in words…unless asked…but it is in our actions. We are just there for the kids (there were about 140-150), relationships form quickly, for they are hungry and thirsty for attention and to interact with us because they see the difference and not just because we don’t smoke/drink/or do drugs nor do we allow, but they sense the spirit of the thing. So, great work is being done. Then the third Fridays of every month called “iCreate" where we do other more smaller scale things ….about 40 kids show up….and they have had different workshops….like one week they had them over to Stanely house to bake cupcakes and decorate them, or they had a workshop on painting…..get the theme….creating things…..arts…..last Friday it was making hemp bracelets, but we also had a BBQ. All the events are a suggested (1pound donation and we ask for them to sign in, but other than that they get funding from a variety of churches and I think some from the government….not sure on that one) So, yes I helped with the BBQ element and just getting to know some of the kids more. It was neat to see how some of these kids had recognized me from the week before and they will come and talk to you just to hear your “American” accent, which they think is so cool! Sometimes it gets tricky to understand what they are saying because of their thick brogue, in combination with them mumbling and talking fast! So, I’ve been praying that God would give me a supernatural ability to hear and understand them without me have to constantly asking them to repeat what they just said! So, yes, I love it. It is a fantastic outreach and community involvement and getting to work with the youth! I may be helping with some theatre workshops in the future….they would love to get to a point that we have something every Friday night, but at this point it is the two Fridays out of the month.
Saturday was a HUGE bbq for all of YWAM Scotland so we had about 80-100 people here. Fun! : ) The weather was and has been incredible this whole last week, with lots of sunshine…I have a nice tan now! : ) Sunday, I had church in our special “Narnia” room which is a small room behind a cupboard/closet that you have to walk through to get into, and it is nice and blissfully quiet. It was Geoffrey’s birthday (He is one of the leaders, “Staffing” the DTS) and so we had home-made Susi…which was INCREDIBLE…surprisingly….and then we had a Scottish Ceilidh….which OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Words cannot express the absolute joy and pure fun it was to dance Scottish folk dances for 2 hours!! (My legs are still sore) It is like a-line dancing- twist-to-a-Jane-Austen-type dance, all danced to Scottish-fold music where there is someone who calls out the moves! SUCH FUN!!!! Then we also did swing dancing. Let me tell you it was a fun party! : ) We thankfully will get to have a couple more Ceilidh’s (Pronounced like “Kaylee”) for different events and then of course graduation in November. I definitely have Scottish blood in me.
Then this whole week has been excellent. On Monday nights, we have what we call “Express” where we have some teaching time, but primarily it is where we will have been instructed to preparing something either a testimony or a teaching or a preaching on a particular topic or on whatever we feel God is leading us to teach on. This last time we were supposed to choose a Characteristic of God and either use it in a testimony or a teaching thing. And only three of us were going to go either by volunteering our selves or by having a our number rolled by dice. I volunteered to go first…since the week before I was last….so I figured why not. It went well….the group gives helpful advice and feedback on what worked or what didn’t! I did it on God’s Faithfulness. : ) This is so we all can have these in our back pocket so when we are on our different outreaches we all can have something ready and have a variety of material to choose from! : ) As much as I don’t like having to do it, I do like having to do it…if you know what I mean. God has been definitely stretching me in this area and teaching me a lot about myself!
We just had our last day of lecture for the week, on Biblical Worldviews. It was AWESOME! WOW!! I won’t try and describe all that I have learned, but it was powerful stuff, for the heart and mind! The man who taught reminded me so much of you Aaron, (my brother), from his mannerism, to the way he talked, to his endless resource of knowledge on crazy, random, yet useful facts, and his humor and his passion of God’s Word and the desire to pass on his knowledge! It was great….though it has made me miss you a ton!!! : ( Something to share from this teaching is, go back to His Word, read it all. Ponder it. I hope you realize on how God desires us to be His that is His cry. I also love on how even when Adam and Eve were trying to hide their nakedness from Him and what they had done and how He was grieved at knowing what had happened and then what it was going to cause that He still took time to clothe them and tell them how too make them! I just shake my head in wonder at the realization of how this small thing, is actually such a HUGE thing, how often God takes time in the midst of a not so wonderful situation and is so caring and so focused on being tender with us stupid humans! The real thought though for you and I to ponder is to think on our families. Think of the past history and lineage of your family, perhaps you know the last 100years family tree or perhaps the last 500 years, either way their lives/stories have helped to shape and affect how our stories start. This is the case for God’s Word, this is a chance for us to read all of humanities story and how the relationship of God and man have been in constant tension…due to our disobedience….but then on how Jesus comes to earth and rectifies this….but then there is a blank spot….between 3 John and the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation tells us how it is going to end, but we are currently in the midst of what is happening between 3 John and Revelation. Thankfully, God has given us His Word to help teach us how then to live out this “blank” section of the story, or rather the story that is being lived out now. The question is what is your role in this Story...are you going to be just a person who reads along with it or who enters in the story and immerses itself in the fellow characters and events? I know I’m not doing any of this justice….there were 12 hours of lecture and I’m trying to pick and choose what to share and then the parts that I choose aren’t coming as smoothly or clearly as I would like, but hopefully I’ve given you something to think about as I’m thinking about it, as well as a multitude of other things!
Up and Coming…..we leave for our 62mile trek this Friday! We will hike it and camp it in 4 days time and then be on the Holy Island of Lindis Farne for four days having three days of lecture on Motivational Gifts and then a day of Solitude/silence. It is an island that you can walk on….depending on the tide…so you have to time it just right in order to get on or off of it. It is an ancient monastery, founded by……. “The Holy Island of Lindisfarne In 635AD St. Aidan came from Iona and chose to found his monastery on Lindisfarne. The Christian message flourished here and spread throughout the world. However Holy Island is not only a centre of pilgrimage. Its tranquility, spirituality and scenic beauty attracts a multitude of visitors to its shores every year. Undoubtedly, it is the jewel in the crown of Northumbria.” (http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/) So pray for safe trekking and traveling and good weather!! We have been blessed with incredible weather this last week or so and would love for it to continue! : )
So, I think perhaps that this blog is long enough, but hopefully enjoyable! : ) So, the things to be praying for is our safety on our trek that we leave for this Friday and then for clarity on where to go for our two month outreach! I will touch base with you all again when I get back after our 8 days away….feel free to write me during that time! I love having emails or post in my inbox! : )Also, let me know of any prayer request that I and/or my team can pray for you about.
Love you lots and lots everybody! Thanks for your prayers as always! : )

Count the Joy!

Lectures officially started this week. This consist of four hours, three days a week. And they(meaning the Staff) has arranged for a speaker to come in and teach us students. This week the topic is Character/Nature of God. WOW! Today was only the first day and I had already about 10 pages of notes….granted I do have a small journal, but truly it was so stimulating and mind engrossing that the four hours flew by! Katherine, the lecturer for this week, is originally from South Africa, she and her husband have been with YWAM for 37 years! She just got her doctorate. She is truly wonderful, she actually reminds me of Julie Andrews, her voice and her serene and humble countenance. God has truly blessed her with wisdom and insight and she has definitely experienced a great deal to have worked through so much and reached such a deep state in her walk with God. Though I’m sure you would be thrilled with me sharing ALL of my notes from the first day, (hear the sarcasm ;)so I will share one of the major thoughts that I was inspired/challenged by.
God loves to take delight in us, this I kind of knew, but didn’t approach it the way I’m going to now. Tonight, before going to bed, think on the things that you did that perhaps brought joy to Him. Just think. “How have I brought Joy to Him today?” It can be one, it can be several things. So, instead of thinking on all the things that I did wrong, or shouldn’t have said, or thought, or didn’t do…..which is good to do in the morning and repent and ask for His grace and strength and be filled more with His Holy Spirit in you than you and your humanness….but instead at night take the time to dwell on the joyous things that brought your Savior, your Creator pleasure and delight! Perhaps it was singing a song to a child or singing to Him? Or saying thank you to one who rendered you a service, or you took the time to make your spouse/or sibling/or roommate a sack lunch, or stopping and telling your family member that you love them and that more importantly that God loves them, or telling someone how beautiful they look today, or taking time and being creative, or even taking care of the body that God gave you by exercising or eating well, or by walking outside and taking time out of your day and being content in the midst of God’s creation, or taking time and being still before Him, or spending time conversing with your Heavenly Daddy and being eager to discover who He is, or if it is writing a kind word or email, or checking on a friend in the midst of your busy schedule, or making someone their favorite meal just because, or perhaps you’ve been pressing in Him and seeking His will or being open to have Him do His work in you no matter what He then asks or calls you to do! Whatever it is take time tonight and the next few nights to do this. Then hopefully it will be a continuous thing. This is one of the things that I had a revelation on today, Miss Katherine, had us do this exercise the first of the lecture and I was floored to think that we should/could do this, but how absolutely necessary this can be in our healthy growth in our relationship and interaction with God. As Katherine put it that you can develop ministry and/opportunities of it when you dwell on the things/actions that you do that bring Him joy because you are then able to develop those gifting in which to use them for Him! You are seeking out ways to bring Him joy! So, count out those joyous moments. I hope that this brings you something to think on and bring you encouragement.

First Full Week!

Hello!! From, currently sunny Paisley, Scotland! WOW!! I am blessed. Can I just start by saying, once again thank you for all your prayers! What a rich and beautiful experience and privilege to be living here at the Stanley House.
I have only been here a total of 9 days, but it feels much longer! A good kind of longer, I feel at home. The Manor that I’m living in was built in the mid/late 1800s. It is gigantic! There are currently 22 people total here, 7 of which are children all under the age of 12! SUCH FUN!!! It is a wonderful community of people to get to dwell with! There are actually 6 people doing the Discipleship Training School (DTS): 5 girls (4 American, 1 British: Kelsi, Cerina, Beka, and Sarah[from England]) and then 1 guy (Corbin) (He and his wife (Stacy) and four boys moved here from the states). I am the oldest of the girls; we get along all so very well! All five of us share a room. It has been good! The rest that live here are the staff, student staff, and interns.

I have gotten somewhat adjusted to the time change, the trick is trying to get my mind to turn off before midnight. The sun doesn’t set fully until 11:30ish so that took a little bit more time to get adjusted and then it rises around 4:00 in the morning! Craziness.

This whole past week has been orientation, getting into the slight rhythm of things and getting the training of how the household is run and how we are apart of it all. We have an incredible schedule! (Our week long trek is in just two weeks! We will be camping the whole time; Google St. Cuthbert’s Way and that is the one that we are going to be doing!)They have it all laid out for us, the whole six months, and have the days broken down, within the days they have hour blocks of what is when and where and what reading is due! It is great. There is daily “Connect” time where we have 7:30am-8:30am to have our quiet time not in our room . Then “Office”, which is where we all gather and have worship , group liturgy prayer (we have these old Celtic prayers that we recite three times a day: once in the morning, one at lunch, and one at dinner: they are three different prayers), and open prayer! Then after office, we will either have lecture, which will be a couple times a week. If it isn’t lecture then it till be blocks of intercession or creative worship or group house projects or reflect time or cleaning house or community outreach projects or setting up for Create or book discussion times or film and theology class or group hiking or group workout (which is two times a week) or testimony/teaching prep class, or whatever and these thing are spread throughout the day and evening. We typically have Sunday off or if not it is then we get Saturday!

Yesterday, Saturday, we did a group hike. It was incredible. We definitely slept well, last night. I’ve posted some pictures on Facebook; the hill overlooks Loch Lomond. We were blessed with incredible weather as well. Today we went to a great church that some of the staff goes to, I love going to church in other countries, because it helps to remind you that God is indeed all knowing, all seeing, and He is everywhere and for everyone! What an AMAZING God we serve, my hope and prayer that I will continually grow faithful as His follower.

This coming week is going to be the first week of lecture, it is on the Character/Nature of God. I’m stoked. We are also having several times where we are praying together as well as separately for where we are going to go on out two month outreach. So, be praying that God would speak clearly and concisely to each one of us and that we’d be ready to go wherever He desires! We had a group intercession time on it last week and it was really cool to hear and see what God was saying.
There are of course so many things to tell you that would take so much, so if you have any questions or whatever fell free to write me. I will try and update my blog every Sunday, and perhaps even more whenever I get a chance.

May this week be filled with blessing. May you readily know that His Hand is upon and His grace is indeed sufficient in and for all things. Take time this week and be still in the mighty and calming Presence of our Creator, God, Friend, and Daddy. Love you all and let me know if you ever need me to pray for you! Thank you for your prayers.

End of the One Chapter and the start of another...

Well, the chapter of Preparation is coming to an end and the next chapter starts tomorrow! I depart from Nashville at 5:55pm and head to Chicago, then from there to London and then onto Glasgow! I can’t believe that after all the prayer, all the paper work, all the hours of work, and all the dreaming and talking that the time has actually arrived. Thank you to everyone of you who has helped me get here! The Grace of God and His faithfulness and your faithfulness to the Holy Spirit’s leading have been such a blessing to me! I do not know what I would have done without it!

I’m starting the actual process of packing up my things and getting all the last minute details in order and then off I go. I am bound for Scotland with my heart ready, nervous, excited and open to whatever God has in store for me!