The Last Moments Before Departure

Within minutes I will board a very large plane for a very foreign land. Anticipation, rooted in what I know to be true about what God is capable to do with a willing heart, is stirring within me in the deepest places. My mind races with thoughts. Trying to grasp one seems almost impossible and can actually be rather exhausting. An abundance of questions seem to overrun my mind! "Is this really God's call?" "Everything about this seems like a horrible plan! In fact it seems completely crazy!" "What was I thinking?" I managed to consume a bit of food to appease a worried mom who was determined to see me to my gate and walk with me as far as possible. With tears I embraced my sister, and with great difficulty kissed my bro good-bye. It was all very nice and more than overwhelming. As I rounded the corner and waved for the last time to my family, I said, "this is it. No turning back. There is no time to doubt. My faithful friend (Jesus) has called me. His voice is faithful and true." A still, sound, reassuring voice seemed to almost whisper, "come away with me." And so here I sit. I've given everything; taken all that I own and possess and cashed it in. All chips at the center of the table. "Double your money!" haha I'm excited and eager to see all that the Lord has for me. I feel incredibly supported by fathers in the faith, dear brothers and sisters who loved me in radical earth shattering ways! Thanks for being apart of my journey! Upward and onward!

Monday Nights

               Probably the most odd name for a church right? But nevertheless it is my family, my church, my very dearly loved friends and comrades in the kingdom of God. In 2011, God had incredible things in store for us. We saw Jesus abundantly pour out into our city on 4^th of July, Halloween, Christmas, and just the average week. We soaked the streets in worship and dancing! We hunted for God’s treasure in our city. We ministered to the forgotten and abandoned. We saw more people healed than any other year! But what’s more, is that we saw the image of love.

 We learned to love for loves sake, with no pushy agendas or strategies where love is the motivation, the culmination, and the conclusion, the foundation for all that is good. I learned what receiving grace is like, and what giving it costs. When you allow others to see you, to see you for who you really are, (and not who you’re working to become), you invite them to the invitation of a lifetime. You invite them to actually love you. And when you see people for who they really are and still choose to believe, contend, and stand beside them, you empower them, thrust them toward destiny, reestablish them in identity and manifest love!  Love has a beaming face that lights up the room and changes the atmosphere! It has a heartbeat, a pulse, and rhythm. It is more real and tangible than we yet know. ~Love 

In addition, I learned Jesus has so much more in store for His church than I’d ever IMAGINED. I caught a glimpse of Heaven as I saw the hearts around me transform. We’ve seen hard times this last year, but we’ve endured, overcome, and chose to love. I have countless memories of Jesus walking throughout the room blessing people. Prophetic words streaming out of empowered people. Too many memories to share, and in fact, they are too precious for mere words. I have found a people worth giving my heart to, the very essence of my life. And for them I would die, but what’s more, I’d live for them! I’ll live to see each of them change the world around them with the Christ they’ve come to know and love. I’m more excited than ever before about these brothers and sisters and I’m honored to be a part of such a powerful outpouring of the Spirit.   

Bethel Trip

               For over a year now I have truly submitted myself to the teachings coming from this church. Bill Johnson and his ability to articulate God's desire for intimacy has launched me into new levels with the Lord that I never thought possible. Excited, and overflowing with expectation, I accompanied my friends to this phenomenal church.  

               

             My trip was met with more than I could have ever imagined. After the morning service, I went down to the front and simply sat there. Soon after, I was talking with one of the loveliest ladies I’d ever met. She asked for prayer in regards to her son. As I prayed, I shared about my love for my mom and some of my recent struggles expressing that love. Before I knew it she was praying for me, and I was sobbing. I was praying for her, and she was sobbing! A truly divine appointment if ever one existed.

           Later that night we returned for their evening service. The service was incredible! I began to pray over people and they were getting healed! All throughout the room people were getting healed! But no words, no pictures, or even the movies could have prepared me for what came next. The entire room began to worship in a way I’d never witnessed. United and pure, they sang! In the upper right corner of the room, toward the ceiling, a small cloud of “gold particles?” (there are no words to describe what it was exactly) formed. It began to grow as worship continued. I rubbed my eyes. Could it be? What was happening!?

          I love reading the Bible, but I’m sometimes surprised at how little I believe it. When faced with encounters with God, it is amazing how often I seek to logically explain things. A cloud of the very presence of God formed in front of my eyes!!! There were no tricks, no games. In fact, those that belonged to the church half expected it. After this trip I knew my life would never be the same!

Here's the team I went with  

The trip concluded with a trip to San Francisco and Manteca California (where there is an amazing out pouring of the Spirit).

Master of Ceremonies

Master of Ceremonies:

Foster Family Network graciously invited me to be there Master of Ceremonies for their Christmas party. Unsure of what was required, yet eager to assist this amazing organization, I volunteered. I arrived at Cal State San Bernardino and walked into the ceremony banquet hall. Much to my dismay, the room was huge! A small chill went through my spine as I realized I would be speaking to hundreds of people. I tried to quickly catch my breath and began praying immediately! “Oh God, oh God…PLEASE!” I didn’t have a lot of words, but I began preaching to myself truth of who I am and who’s I am. 

Amid the many raffles, there was a dance contest, and many other fun activities. Jesus heard my prayers…the director of the organization told me that I was on the calendar for next year, and that I was the best MC they had ever had! Thank you to Foster Family Network for the honor to serve such an organization, to my mom for pushing me into these things;) and to Jon, Paul and Jennifer for their love and support that day!