God has been revealing his artistry to me.
Today I went for a run. If you know me, you'll know I really don't enjoy running. However I was done my work duties early and had an hour before dinner, and God said "GO!" so I went.
I'm so glad I did. Our YWAM base is right beside the Pacific Ocean. I usually run when I'm frustrated, and I didn't realize how much frustration I had pent up today. As I ran I kept my eyes focused on the abandoned hotel a few miles down the beach. That was my destination. However. I stopped short as I realized that I was completely ignoring the beauty that was to my side!
The tide was coming in, the waves were rolling in close to my feet, and the sun was setting. The sky was exploding in vibrant orange, red and yellow. The receding light cut a path through the waves and the clouds stretched across the span of the sky in varying pastel colors.
I realized... God himself orchestrated that brilliant display of color. How could I possibly focus on my petty frustrations, or my aching legs, when the heavens were exploding in pure art!!! I was absolutely floored by this astounding display. My run transformed from a time of pounding out my own frustration to a time of unhindered praise. It was if God was saying ..."look bigger. Stop focusing on the hotel and your frustrations, and just ENJOY ME." I certainly did :)
29 November 2011
26 November 2011
Love song.
If you have not heard "You're Beautiful" by Phil Wickham, pleeeeease please go listen to it. I think often we look at God's creation and think "oh that is beautiful." ...How often have you prayed and said to God, YOU are beautiful?
I see your face in every sunrise
the colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
the world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You're beautiful
I see your power in moonlit night
where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
we are amazed in the light of the stars
it's all proclaiming who You are
You're beautiful
I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then You died and then You rose again for me
now You are sitting on Your heavenly throne
soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful
When we arrive at eternity's shore
where death is just a memory and tears are no more
we'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful
(YouTube song here)
That's all. I love you, whoever may be reading this!
I see your face in every sunrise
the colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
the world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You're beautiful
I see your power in moonlit night
where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
we are amazed in the light of the stars
it's all proclaiming who You are
You're beautiful
I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then You died and then You rose again for me
now You are sitting on Your heavenly throne
soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful
When we arrive at eternity's shore
where death is just a memory and tears are no more
we'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful
(YouTube song here)
That's all. I love you, whoever may be reading this!
25 November 2011
Week 9 - Evangelism
Currently listening to The Civil Wars (Thanks Jessie for your wide array of music!) and enjoying a quiet Friday. Our schedule this week/weekend is all jumbled. Some of my DTS classmates are off building a house today, while others of us stayed behind and cleaned up the base.
Yesterday I had my first American Thanksgiving, in Mexico! There were about 160 people on the base for Thanksgiving dinner. It was kind of strange, since Thanksgiving should be in October, spent with my family. I spent a lot of my afternoon helping carve turkeys and fellowshipping with others in the kitchen. The list of things I'm thankful for exceeds my attention span to write them all down! It was such a good day though, and I am so very grateful for the family I have here in YWAM Ensenada.
Our speaker this week was from Australia!! For anyone who follows me at King's... He reminded me so much of Dr. Peet, with an Australian accent, on crack. He was so energetic and passionate about speaking about evangelism. I quite enjoyed his words, however I found I didn't get as much out of this week as I potentially could have. It seems everyone on base has been having trouble sleeping lately - or just trouble going to bed on time. We've been here for over two months, and I guess it's just "that time" where we've hit the pinnacle of our time here and are starting to wrap things up.. and everyone's schedule has been somewhat disrupted by the sheer number of people on the base.
Last night after Thanksgiving Dinner we had a talent show! It was so fun. Hmmm. Thoughts are popping up about the Christmas talent show... What songs to perform. I've got an itch to be back up on stage, I realize how much I've missed singing and playing the piano.
Today I've been enjoying the sunshine. I was sitting in the courtyard today doing my homework and I thought of the benediction line "and may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you" - I imagine that's what it feels like. To be blessed with the rays of the sun gently kissing my face.
To each of you who read this... I love you and miss you. I wouldn't say I'm terribly homesick, but feeling nostalgic today. Missing old friends, and old times. I hope lots of people read this blog and are blessed by it. If you know someone who may be interested in following my DTS journey, please feel free to send them the link to my page. Love you all.
Yesterday I had my first American Thanksgiving, in Mexico! There were about 160 people on the base for Thanksgiving dinner. It was kind of strange, since Thanksgiving should be in October, spent with my family. I spent a lot of my afternoon helping carve turkeys and fellowshipping with others in the kitchen. The list of things I'm thankful for exceeds my attention span to write them all down! It was such a good day though, and I am so very grateful for the family I have here in YWAM Ensenada.
Our speaker this week was from Australia!! For anyone who follows me at King's... He reminded me so much of Dr. Peet, with an Australian accent, on crack. He was so energetic and passionate about speaking about evangelism. I quite enjoyed his words, however I found I didn't get as much out of this week as I potentially could have. It seems everyone on base has been having trouble sleeping lately - or just trouble going to bed on time. We've been here for over two months, and I guess it's just "that time" where we've hit the pinnacle of our time here and are starting to wrap things up.. and everyone's schedule has been somewhat disrupted by the sheer number of people on the base.
Last night after Thanksgiving Dinner we had a talent show! It was so fun. Hmmm. Thoughts are popping up about the Christmas talent show... What songs to perform. I've got an itch to be back up on stage, I realize how much I've missed singing and playing the piano.
Today I've been enjoying the sunshine. I was sitting in the courtyard today doing my homework and I thought of the benediction line "and may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you" - I imagine that's what it feels like. To be blessed with the rays of the sun gently kissing my face.
To each of you who read this... I love you and miss you. I wouldn't say I'm terribly homesick, but feeling nostalgic today. Missing old friends, and old times. I hope lots of people read this blog and are blessed by it. If you know someone who may be interested in following my DTS journey, please feel free to send them the link to my page. Love you all.
20 November 2011
Week 8 - Destiny
God let us laugh this week.
After NIKO, Kenny Peavy and Tim Pratt, all of us were in dire need of a good laugh. Brenda Lewis brought a fresh perspective, and lots of smiles. She used to be a hippie in the 70's and now is a YWAM speaker. She shared her heart for India and the work she's done there. When she showed a video of her ministry in India (Hope of Glory Foundation - check out http://hogfindia.wordpress.com/) I felt a stirring in my heart. God nudged me and said "My daughter. Keep this in mind." God also confirmed to me that I'm to go back to nursing school in September.
For a while I was flirting with the idea of just being a YWAMer - joining as full time staff and serving in that regard. The only problem was then I'd be throwing my dreams of being a nurse out the window. Entonces. God confirmed to me that I'm to go back to school. Once I'm a nurse, I will be able to serve God using my gifts more. Brenda encouraged us to dream big, and had us draw out what our hopes and dreams are for where we will be in 10 years. I realized that if I was a YWAMer I would disregard God's plans for me to be a nurse. In 10 years I want to have the title RN after my name. I want to be married. I don't know if I want to have kids, but I know for sure that I want to be doing mission work in some form with my husband. I realized I really don't want a comfortable life, living in a little house with a large disposable income. I want to be used by God, and I want to travel the world using my skills as a nurse to bless people in developing nations - in whatever form God calls me to. Brenda encouraged us to dream big with God. To realize these dreams and to put them to paper was exciting! God has big plans for me! ...Now I just have to figure out where I want to go to school. Minor detail :)
We're hitting almost 2 months of DTS. I'm still loving it, but community living definitely has its downfalls. For one, it's hard to be alone. It's nearly impossible to be an introvert because everyone is wondering where you are, if you're okay, why you're not talking... I sometimes need alone time. That is hard here. Personality types can clash, and people can definitely be frustrating. I'm sure I too have frustrated others. There's literally nowhere to be alone. Through this aspect God is stretching me too and challenging aspects of my character. He is challenging me on what loving my brothers and sisters in Christ really means. Not simply tolerating them in frustrating moments, but extending the love and grace that I have been blessed with.
God is good, and I am incredibly blessed to call him my Daddy.
After NIKO, Kenny Peavy and Tim Pratt, all of us were in dire need of a good laugh. Brenda Lewis brought a fresh perspective, and lots of smiles. She used to be a hippie in the 70's and now is a YWAM speaker. She shared her heart for India and the work she's done there. When she showed a video of her ministry in India (Hope of Glory Foundation - check out http://hogfindia.wordpress.com/) I felt a stirring in my heart. God nudged me and said "My daughter. Keep this in mind." God also confirmed to me that I'm to go back to nursing school in September.
For a while I was flirting with the idea of just being a YWAMer - joining as full time staff and serving in that regard. The only problem was then I'd be throwing my dreams of being a nurse out the window. Entonces. God confirmed to me that I'm to go back to school. Once I'm a nurse, I will be able to serve God using my gifts more. Brenda encouraged us to dream big, and had us draw out what our hopes and dreams are for where we will be in 10 years. I realized that if I was a YWAMer I would disregard God's plans for me to be a nurse. In 10 years I want to have the title RN after my name. I want to be married. I don't know if I want to have kids, but I know for sure that I want to be doing mission work in some form with my husband. I realized I really don't want a comfortable life, living in a little house with a large disposable income. I want to be used by God, and I want to travel the world using my skills as a nurse to bless people in developing nations - in whatever form God calls me to. Brenda encouraged us to dream big with God. To realize these dreams and to put them to paper was exciting! God has big plans for me! ...Now I just have to figure out where I want to go to school. Minor detail :)
We're hitting almost 2 months of DTS. I'm still loving it, but community living definitely has its downfalls. For one, it's hard to be alone. It's nearly impossible to be an introvert because everyone is wondering where you are, if you're okay, why you're not talking... I sometimes need alone time. That is hard here. Personality types can clash, and people can definitely be frustrating. I'm sure I too have frustrated others. There's literally nowhere to be alone. Through this aspect God is stretching me too and challenging aspects of my character. He is challenging me on what loving my brothers and sisters in Christ really means. Not simply tolerating them in frustrating moments, but extending the love and grace that I have been blessed with.
God is good, and I am incredibly blessed to call him my Daddy.
13 November 2011
Week 7 - Unity
What a week.
Our speaker this past week was Tim Pratt, and he addressed unity. Our outreach teams are decided, and we are beginning to meet more frequently to discuss what our outreach will look like, who needs to raise more money, and the like.
This week was very emotional, because one of the things Tim addressed with us was Vulnerability Based Trust. Being honest and open with other team members and building trust from that place of openness. Many people shared things that were on their hearts, things that had not been addressed during our testimony time. Many tears were shed. People shared things that hurt deeply. Even Tim was brought to tears as he shared what was on his heart.
We did many team building exercises, outside in the ocean and then in the mud. The point was to see how we worked together in a team, with various "handicaps" - for example, for a while all the guys were blindfolded. Or, only those who spoke English as a second language could speak.
After this, we did personality tests and analyzed in our teams what our strengths were and where we might run into problems in outreach. I thoroughly enjoyed Tim's teaching. He is such a man of God. I respect him immensely for being vulnerable with us, and not just being the "leader." He really showed me a father heart.
I find it's becoming a common theme for me to sleep in on Saturdays, and stay up late during the weekends. After such intense, heavy weeks our weekends are time to just relax and enjoy some free time. Today a bunch of us went to a movie, and had great adventures coming home in the torrential downpour. Can't wait for what next week will bring!
Our speaker this past week was Tim Pratt, and he addressed unity. Our outreach teams are decided, and we are beginning to meet more frequently to discuss what our outreach will look like, who needs to raise more money, and the like.
This week was very emotional, because one of the things Tim addressed with us was Vulnerability Based Trust. Being honest and open with other team members and building trust from that place of openness. Many people shared things that were on their hearts, things that had not been addressed during our testimony time. Many tears were shed. People shared things that hurt deeply. Even Tim was brought to tears as he shared what was on his heart.
We did many team building exercises, outside in the ocean and then in the mud. The point was to see how we worked together in a team, with various "handicaps" - for example, for a while all the guys were blindfolded. Or, only those who spoke English as a second language could speak.
After this, we did personality tests and analyzed in our teams what our strengths were and where we might run into problems in outreach. I thoroughly enjoyed Tim's teaching. He is such a man of God. I respect him immensely for being vulnerable with us, and not just being the "leader." He really showed me a father heart.
I find it's becoming a common theme for me to sleep in on Saturdays, and stay up late during the weekends. After such intense, heavy weeks our weekends are time to just relax and enjoy some free time. Today a bunch of us went to a movie, and had great adventures coming home in the torrential downpour. Can't wait for what next week will bring!
5 November 2011
Week 6 - The Holy Spirit
What a week.
Kenny Peavy was here speaking to us about the Holy Spirit. I don't have the words to properly articulate all that happened. If you ever have the privilege to meet this man... take his words to heart. He is such a powerful testament to how having a personal, 'vertical' relationship with the Lord can set your mind and your life ablaze.
One of the exercises he had us do was to stand in a circle and to speak out which aspects of our lives needed to be gone. My fellow classmates spoke out things such as the spirit of the fear of man, the spirit of insecurity and comparison, the spirit of doubt, and it went on and on. After that we had a figurative bonfire, ready to be completely burned up. (Think Old Testament altars) It was freeing to know that identifying such aspects in our lives and allowing God to burn them up.
Another thing that really impacted me was entering the presence of the Lord. Psalm 100:4.
For a long time, people have prayed over the YWAM Ensenada base for a revival. For a new spirit to be upon this base. This week, we saw the beginning of this revival. Things are changing and there is a NEW NORMAL!! Last night I was praying for Sarah D at about one in the morning. Matt walked in and said "LOOK AT THIS!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING!!" There is a new normal coming for YWAM Ensenada, and that norm is revival! God is doing so many things on this base!! Today five people got baptized in the ocean. The waves were ridiculously high, and they crashed and roared in the background as if God was saying "YEAAH!! These are my kids!!!!!"
It has been a ridiculous week, and many people overcame battles. God has changed hearts, and opened doors. He has blessed and He has restored. Amen.
Kenny Peavy was here speaking to us about the Holy Spirit. I don't have the words to properly articulate all that happened. If you ever have the privilege to meet this man... take his words to heart. He is such a powerful testament to how having a personal, 'vertical' relationship with the Lord can set your mind and your life ablaze.
One of the exercises he had us do was to stand in a circle and to speak out which aspects of our lives needed to be gone. My fellow classmates spoke out things such as the spirit of the fear of man, the spirit of insecurity and comparison, the spirit of doubt, and it went on and on. After that we had a figurative bonfire, ready to be completely burned up. (Think Old Testament altars) It was freeing to know that identifying such aspects in our lives and allowing God to burn them up.
Another thing that really impacted me was entering the presence of the Lord. Psalm 100:4.
Enter his gates with thanksgivingAll we need to do to enter His gates is give Him thanks!!! Then to enter the courts of the Lord, simply praise Him! At this point the Holy Spirit was so present in the room, it was tangible. The air was so thick with the Spirit that you felt it when you breathed! There are no words to explain it.
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For a long time, people have prayed over the YWAM Ensenada base for a revival. For a new spirit to be upon this base. This week, we saw the beginning of this revival. Things are changing and there is a NEW NORMAL!! Last night I was praying for Sarah D at about one in the morning. Matt walked in and said "LOOK AT THIS!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING!!" There is a new normal coming for YWAM Ensenada, and that norm is revival! God is doing so many things on this base!! Today five people got baptized in the ocean. The waves were ridiculously high, and they crashed and roared in the background as if God was saying "YEAAH!! These are my kids!!!!!"
It has been a ridiculous week, and many people overcame battles. God has changed hearts, and opened doors. He has blessed and He has restored. Amen.
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