Tears of Joy

Summer has been a whirlwind to say the least!!! This has been my second go-round of events with the Synod of the Heartland. Last weekend we finished out Power Connection--our last major event of 2010--with a bang:) When I see people stand up saying they want Jesus to be apart of their life, I know every extra hour, late night (or sleepless night for that matter) was worth it. I spent a precious moment with a fellow team member (also a dear friend) rejoicing with the angels in heaven. We cried tears of joy for the lives that were touched and prayed for the floodgates of heaven to pour down over their open hearts. Jesus knocked and they said YES!!!!!!!!!
I continually thank God for the opportunity he has given me. After I graduated from university, I really didn't have a clue what I would end up doing. The road hasn't always been easy but the journey leading me up to this point has made me who I am. I have finally found a job that "fits". My gifts and passions are being used and developed. I waited on the Lord and he answered me! My life is FULL.

Colorado

I was in Estes Park, CO this past week for Rocky Mountain High Organizing Team meetings. In just over a year we will have between 2000-3000 youth up there for an event!!! All the stuff I have to learn to help make this happen was a little overwhelming but it was exciting at the same time! It is a beautiful location and at one of the largest YMCA camps in the country. You can't see it in this picture... but we are smack dab in the middle of the mountains. It is a gorgeous sight. I always feel so small when I'm in the mountains. It always reminds me how big God really is. The night before we left it started snowing. When we woke up there was a foot of snow on the ground!!!! It reminded me a lot of home (Smithers that is).

May I Have This Dance?

I just finished reading (well technically re-reading) a book that has challenged me in many ways. I love the closing scene the author chooses. It's a description of a couple at an eloquent ball. The host chooses an unexpected woman to be his partner for the opening dance. He makes eye contact and holds it with her the whole way out to the dance floor. Just as the music is about to start the woman hesitates. He senses her hesitation and overrides her fear with confidence by taking her hand and telling her to follow him--he will lead. All she has to do is gather up the courage to trust his lead.

It can be a scary move sometimes. I know I fight the battle of wanting to lead but when I let go and follow things flow like they're supposed too. How often do I try to take the lead from Jesus... or for that matter can't work up the courage to even begin dancing. I let fear, inadequacy or the thought of being a disappointment take over. This paragraph hit home when I read it:

"Jesus is extending His hand to you. He is inviting you to dance with Him. He asks, 'May I have the dance... everyday of your life?' His gaze is fixed on you. He is captivated by your beauty. He is smiling. He cares nothing of the opinion of others. He is standing. He will Lead. He waits for your response." --Eldredge

May you always feel His gaze, soak it in and dance like He's the only one watching!

One Year In Iowa

One year ago today I started my first day of work here in Orange City, IA! This past year has held a lot of memories... some make me laugh... others make me want to cry. In many aspects, this has been a hard year but a good year. I still feel as thought I am in transition--a part of me wonders if that feeling will ever go away out here. Here is a small recap of the GOOD year I have had:)

Hannah and I playing with the bears in South Dakota on our road trip

Girls weekend in Vancouver... my first encounter with the ocean after the big move!

April and I spending some quality time together in Winnipeg

Halloween... we know how to dress in STYLE

The onething conference in Kansas City (once again... chipotle was STILL worth the wait)

Bob and I making snow angels... another regular day at work!!!

Thanks for enjoying this little walk down memory lane with me!!! Time sure does fly when you're having fun:)

2nd Moon Coffee Cafe

I’m sitting in downtown Minneapolis at the coolest little coffee shop. There’s funky art on the walls, old overused couches in the corner and a random string of over-sized Christmas lights strung from one end of the shop to the other. It’s a breath of fresh air from the fast paced, overly stereotypical Starbucks I have become accustom too. This is personally… and I LOVE IT!

Today has been a day of RECALL (believe it or not I’m “working” right now). I am soaking in every bit of today. I got told to leave my schedule at home and go rediscover me. What is my heart saying? What are those voices that need to be drowned out? What is God trying to say to me that I’ve been too busy to listen too?

I’ve been wanting to hide recently. I’ve been wanting to disappear and make all the things I can’t control go away. If only I could vanish into thin air and come back another day…maybe. I’ve been trying so hard to control certain areas of my life and quite frankly, it’s tiring me out. A few days ago one of my friends called and told me I need to stop telling God what to do. Easier said than done. I’m slowly peeling back my fingers from the death-grip I’ve managed to wrap around my life. I know it’s going to hurt when I finally let go and I’m not sure if I’m ready to face that hurt yet. Finger by finger I will let go. I am letting go. All in all , I know I have desires in my heart this world cannot satisfy. I can’t run away. I can’t disappear. But I can continue to put my trust in one who is GREATER than the emotional roller coaster I put myself on. If I continue to look UP my vision will come into focus and my death grip will be loosed. I will raise my hands and surrender to King of Kings.

Reminiscing

The last couples weeks I've been going through an assortment of picutres I"ve taken over the years. I busted out some photos from Alaska, New Zealand, the road trip out to Iowa. Its been fun recalling all the stories that come with these small snapshots in my life:) It has made me hungry for another good adventure. I feel like I'm on the brink of going crazy if a good adventures doesn't come out the wood work sometime soon! I've found myself pulling... maybe yanking would be a better word... on the reigns these last couple weeks from throwing all responsibility and (little) finances aside to appease my restless moments of desperation for ADVENTURE.
Maybe the restlessness has something to do with my one year anniversary of being in Iowa coming up... strange to think I it's almost a year. I don't feel like it's been that long. I still feel like a newbie--maybe part of that has to do with my inability to sense direction out here. It was bad to start with but I feel like it's slightly worse not having reference points like mountains, hills, and mass bodies of water to guide me. I have the exciting experiences of getting lost in cornfields and wondering how long its going to take before some fed-up farmer comes out of his house with a shotgun locked and loaded ready to chase me off his property!
In the meantime, I will continue to be the responsible one. I will pour everything I have into what I have around me and not miss the moments I am in. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence right? I going to choose to look at my own green grass and stop to smell the flowers along the way!

Part 2: The Awakening

I have to confess, the first time I heard about IHOP I was intrigued but it scared me. I was at a place in my life where I did not want to attempt the "unknown" in prayer. I wasn't even sure if I "truly believed" in prayer...I know Christians are supposed to...but I questioned whether it really worked or not.
I was thinking about Chronicles of Narnia and came to this analogy. Imagine if Lucy had found the wardrobe, knew there was another world on the other side but never mustered the courage to walk through and experience it. I know I can become so accustomed to the world around me that I miss super natural opportunities placed right before my eyes.
Maybe we get the idea in our heads that a land like Narnia is only for the "young and adventurous" or it's only good for the "people that found it." Maybe like me, people are too scared to open up the wardrobe because they're flat out scared of walking into the unknown.
I think Mr. Lewis was on to something big here that we tend to skip over all too often. Lucy took the plunge and look what happened as a result of it! Going down to IHOP was like entering a whole different world to me. I saw the Holy Spirit work and move. I saw people physically and emotionally healed. I watched people be delivered from life long habits of oppression, drugs, fear and self-hatred (to name a few!!).
I am continually learning the POWER of prayer. There was a point in my life where I couldn't say those words. I began to say it but wasn't too sure I believed it. Now I am believing it--and I have learned that prayer is not boring!! I'm not locking myself in a dark old wardrobe to perform my "christian duty and pray". I've found the secret door leading at the back of the wardrobe that's introduced me to fun and exciting prayer.

Part 1: The City Of Fountains

I was introduced to Kansas City this past summer on a work trip. The first night I was there it stole a piece of my heart . I absolutally LOVE fountains; the bigger the better. And KC has fountains galore!!! Since my introduction I've had the opportunity to go back several times. Most recently I have been captivated by the what's been going on at the KC IHOP (International House of Prayer).

I initially heard the name IHOP (the IHOP without pancakes that is:) when I was living in New Zealand about 3 years ago. My interests were peaked but I never managed to find the time to come and experience it when I arrived back to North America. Moving out to Iowa last April opened the door and I've been to their prayer room numerous times now.

These experieces have touched me deeply, they have encouraged me and made me hungry for more of what heaven brings to earth. I long for more. I long for more truth, love and intimacy admist all the hurt and pain that surrounds me both near and far. The battles of this world seek to pull us down but I am choosing to look beyond to GREATER things which are coming.