I wanted to share this incredibly encouraging video with you. It describes the the national three days of fasting and prayer that was called by President Preval on February 12, 2010. Even though the media attention is fading the farther we get from the day of the quake, there is still much to do in this nation. I am proud to be part of an organization that is committed for the long haul down there. I am helping interview and mobilize leaders to assist with the short term teams we are beginning to send down. You can read a first hand account of the three days here from Seth Barnes, AIM's executive director, here.
Harvest and Papa proceeded through the small garden to
a small dirt path on the other side and began to follow it to where
Papa only knew. Onward they traversed on the dirt trail, passing
gardens on the left and right. Some were overflowing with vibrant
flowers, some priming with luscious fruit, some bursting with amazing
aromas from the herbs nestled within. Papa kept trucking along with
his straw hat and sword slung over His shoulder, Harvest merely tried
to keep up as her eyes wandered to and from trying to take in the
scenery.
At
last, His pace slowed down until Harvest walked up beside Him to see
the view which caused Him to stop. They stood on an unassuming green
hill, but before them for miles stretched a garden. It's
the garden of the God,
Harvest amused. The sight was unique to say the least for even
though the garden appeared quite manicured, it also was clearly
haphazard with tall fruit trees and flower bushes sprouting up amidst
the lines of strawberries and rows of cabbage. Harvest looked up at
Papa. He knew precisely what she was thinking and answered without
missing a beat, "What?" He joked, "Sometimes as I pick green
beans, I must have a delicious orange. I just like stuff where I
like stuff." She laughed, shaking her head.
Dropping the sword down to the ground, Papa whispered;
the anticipation of the moment preceded His words, "Watch closely."
Harvest peered left and right, not sure what she was looking for,
but hoping desperately she would not miss it. Her eyes were drawn to
a large oak tree standing ridiculously tall in the middle of a
pumpkin patch. Squinting, she did notice something interesting.
It's leaves were changing color. Slowly at first...then quickly.
Within moments, the leaves had fallen off the tree and new buds were
already sprouting. The new leaves grew large and green only to begin
to dry out and turn orange and yellow. Harvest was amazed. She saw
this oak tree experience all four seasons in a matter of moments,
right before her eyes. But the pumpkins below seemed comfortably
settled into autumn the entire time. As she turned to face Papa and
inquire of this sight, she saw Him with the sword drawn towards the
oak tree.
"Keep watching," He whispered again as he began to
move the point of the sword towards other trees, bushes and vines.
She watched as He waved the sword about how the seasons would change
around specific plants or groupings of plants. He might as well have
been conducting a seasonal orchestra. "Now," He handed the sword
to Harvest, "it's your turn."
Harvest
tentatively took the sword in both hands and looked around the
garden. Where
should I point it? I haven't a clue how to do what Papa just did.
As she looked down at the abundance of plants, something strange
began to happen. There was a sense inside her, an undeniable
feeling, that the apple tree beside the blueberry bushes was craving
winter. Drawing her sword with both hands, Harvest pointed at the
tree and at once, winter came to the apple tree. It was soon
followed by spring. Soon she felt undeniably sure that the field of
daisies were hungry for summer. Pointing her sword again, she saw
the daisies perk up and the ground become more dry. With bewildered
joy, Harvest began to wield the sword over the whole garden as the
plants ebbed and flowed with the seasons. With her arms at last
growing weary, she put the sword down.
"In this garden, Harvest, the seasons don't just
happen, you see? Something inside the plants craves them. They
hunger for winter and thirst for spring. The seasons enable the
plants to grow, and I have placed destiny in their roots, that they
may have an insatiable appetite to be fully grown." He looked down
at Harvest and lovingly patted her hands around the sword. "You are
a season shifter, my Harvest. You were created to shift things for
my Kingdom. Shifting seasons. It's not about arbitrary change, it's
about ushering in maturity. As you wield my Word, you will usher in
maturity for my bride. Your life, your declarations, your presence
will bring forth new seasons for others to mature in. You see, in
the Kingdom, seasons are like paint brushes, stroking refinement,
color, and vision."
Harvest just stared at Him thinking of all the
implications of her life being one that initiated change and maturity
in others. "But what if I bring about the winter season? How
dreary!"
"In the Kingdom it is not that winter means bad times
and summer means good. The seasons aren't empirically good or bad,
they are divine transitions that lead to maturity, more so if one's
eyes are on me. This is the transformation power of Truth, when it
is wielded 'in season', as it were." Papa winked.
Just
as Harvest drew the sword near her to think more on what Papa had
said, she began to hear drums.
"A new song has awoken, My Harvest." Papa wrapped
His arms around her, "from your heart. Sounds a bit like an army."
Without hesitation, He took both her hands and thrust the sword into
the nearby grass. Their feet caught the rhythm of the drums as they
danced in a circle both dreaming of a day when the bride would be
fully awake, fully mature, and fully on the move.
if this story touched you or God spoke to you through it, please leave a comment. I will make sure Sara sees them!
I am going to use the next two blogs to do some hardcore bragging on my amazingly talented sister, friend, fellow contender in the faith and (just recently) bunkmate, Sara Rust. Sarah and I first met as interns with Youthworks way back in 2003. I only remembered her back then as the cute quiet gal with the guitar and video camera always handy. We then both came on staff with Two Rivers, and were forever cemented into the same spiritual family as we prayed, worshipped and contended together for a little town in southern IL. During this time I began to understand how much depth and creativity was bouncing around in that mysterious brain of hers. Sara is a powerful worship leader, has written and recorded music, and has incredible talent in editing video (she was a film major in college). A gift that I believe God is going to use to rock the world in the knowledge of His Kingdom, though is her writing. Her stories are mostly short fiction pieces displaying the Father's heart for His children. Last year, Sara went to a writing conference here at Bethel Church and her short story won first prize! She has since wrote a collection of short stories, most she has given to friends and family as gifts, that have a common theme of invitation, which she hopes to have published by the end of 2010. She also has a couple children's books in the works, too. She wrote me one for my birthday just a few weeks ago, and my first night home here in Redding, she read it to me out loud. Talk about a welcome home gift! A powerful, prophetic picture of the Father's heart. And I want to share it with you:
Seasonal
Copyright 2010 Sara Rust
Oddly
enough as she stood before the little garden tool shed, Harvest could
hear the lulling cadence of a fiddle somewhere in the distance. It
was a beautiful garden, albeit small. The beds were meticulously
kept. No weed in sight, just the quaint image of perfect rows of
perfectly ripe fruit and vegetables. The aroma was delicious as
around the small garden grew a hedge of blossoming rose bushes.
Harvest reached inside her invitation to pull out some fresh rose
petals. Her nose took a deep drink of them, then leaned over to
smell the roses on the bushes. "This is it," she thought.
Seeing a chair on the small patio by the shed, Harvest
made her way to it to rest for a moment, all the while hearing the
fiddle reels closing in. It wasn't a few moments after she sat down
that she heard the fiddle just behind her, and turning around found a
jovial Papa, complete with straw hat, offering her his hand. "Let's
show them how it's done, my Harvest." Papa grinned.
Harvest smiled, and then took a few moments to search
for the fiddle which seemed like it should be right next to her.
"You won't find it, dear one," Papa affirmed, "the music is
stirring from inside you."
Harvest eyed Him with confusion, "But it got louder
the closer you were."
Papa nodded, "Think of it this way, my presence is a
sounding board for the inner workings of your heart. The closer I
get, the louder it resounds." With that, He looked down at His hand
again and eagerly looked back up at Harvest. Harvest willingly
reached out her hand and in a whirl, she and Papa took to the patio
transforming it into a wee Irish dance floor. Fiddle reels and
giggles filled the small garden until suddenly the music stopped.
Harvest put her hands on hear heart, "Oh no! I'm so
sorry, Papa, the music is gone. I'm not sure what I did."
Papa drew near to Harvest and embraced her as only Papa
could. "No, no my Harvest. It seems the song has only come to an
end, to make way for a new song. Rest assured, the music only gets
better and better. Now we can eagerly await the melodies to come."
Harvest let out a sigh of relief and both the weary dancers took a
seat on the patio.
"What do you think of my little garden, here,
Harvest?"
"It's rather beautiful, Papa, though, honestly I
expected any garden of Yours to be a bit larger." Papa smiled
knowingly at Harvest then turned to look over his small garden, "This
is one of the smaller varieties. I thought it would be a fitting
place to begin, before I show you one of the larger varieties."
Papa stood up and walked to the tool shed. "We will need some
tools to work in the other garden," he said opening up the door.
"Pick one."
"Pick one?" Harvest rose from her chair and peered
into the shed. Her eyes widened. Inside was a curious collection of
typical garden tools and some not so typical ones. On the floor she
spotted ballet slippers, on the shelf she noted a can of paint
brushes and hanging on the wall was a simple fishing pole.
"But you can only pick one." Papa repeated.
Harvest
entered the shed looking over the range of tools. What
should she pick? Was this a test? How could ballet slippers prove
productive for a gardening task?
Scouring the shelves, the walls, and the floor, she finally came
across an object that, though seemingly unfit for a day in the
garden, was in her mind the only perfect item to be found. She
carefully pulled it out from behind the shovels and hoes and dragged
it outside to Papa, whose eyes spoke, confirming of His delight in
her choice.
"Now that, dear Harvest, is a perfect gardening
tool." He picked up the tall silver sword and draped it over His
shoulder. "Follow me, Harvest."
After a great few days in Cairo, I hopped
back in my packed to the gills Honda and made the 9.5 hour trek down to Dallas,
TX. There I visited with my friend Valerie, her husband Jer and their beautiful
new baby, Lily. Val and I lived together in West Virgina , working as interns
for Youthworks. We were apart of the only all girls team, and the four of us
had an ease and love amongst us that was, and still continues to be, a rare and
precious thing. I have not seen Val in over two years, since we were all reunited
again for Emily's, another of our foursome, wedding. Time and busyness and
geography have taken us on different paths, but it is always a blast when we
reunite. And obviously, this one was a whole different kind of fun as I
met her three month old daughter Lily. What a gorgeous little gal!
It was so great to see Val in this new role and her, Jer, and Lily's life
together in Dallas. We cooked dinner, took pics of the babe, watched the
Olympics, and talked about the ridiculous situations we used to find ourselves
in back in the Youthworks days (involving things like a 15 passenger van loaded
down with bad paint tipping over as we drove through the mountains). It
was a joy to see her again and have a glimpse of the new life and role God has
given her.
Thursday
morning (after Val sent me off with a packed lunch-such a mom;) I hopped on I20
heading west to El Paso. What can I say about driving in Texas? flat.
brown. fantastically high speed limits. I learned that tumble weeds are
not just in western cartoons and they do indeed tumble across the dusty plain.
Not a whole ton to occupy your senses, but I found that I do indeed enjoy the
open road-good tunes, lots of time to sit in the Presence. Driving was a
very joyful time for me.
Brittany and
I went to YHC and UGA together. Our freshman year at YHC we were both on
a spring break trip to Juarez , MX with an organization called Casas Por
Cristo. This was my first mission trip ever, and where I was awakened to
my love for missions. Brittany and I both took two more trips during
college. Britt then came on staff with Casas after graduation and has
been with them ever since (going on 7 years). Ironically enough, I passed
through El Paso almost exactly 10 years to the day of our first mission trip down
there as freshman. It was great to reflect with her about those trips and
where life has taken us and many other dear folk from college. Brittany's
relentless pursuit of God's heart is so encouraging to see, and she is an
example of commitment and perserverance in one of the hardest places in North
America to live and minister. I got to sit in on a Casas staff/prayer
meeting and it was awesome to be able to see them in action-an organization
that had such an impact on my early journey. It was an honor to be able
to pray with them and encourage them in the place God has them.
My
cross-country trek began last Friday and my first stop was Cairo, IL-where I
currently still am until Wed. morning. I have written about Cairo on this
blog numerous times. I called this place home for 2.5 years, and I found my covenant
family here as we struggled, contended and grew in a place together that most
of the time felt like it was straight out of Isaiah-barren, desolate, no sign
of livestock,(tangent:I have never seen a single squirrel the entire four years
I have been around this place-weird huh?) the whole bit. A town where
every kid lives below the poverty line, most people don't have jobs, and racial
tension and strife leftover from the civil rights movement exists to this
day. Let's just say, this was great training ground for me to understand
spiritual warfare, standing in the gap, and the power of God's promises-and
declaring them over places, regions, and nations. Coming back is always a
unique feeling-like coming home, but sort of like when your home is war torn
Sudan or Iraq. I forget what reality here can mean sometimes.
Yesterday, I was reminded.
I
joined two of my former staff mates as they did their weekly prayer/ministry
time at the projects. There are two housing projects in Cairo, and they
switch off between the two on Monday afternoons. There is no set plan:
just whatever God wants them to do each time: intercede, talk to people, pray
with people, etc. As we pulled up to the place, one of the girls shared a
story from earlier that day at one of the elementary schools. Without going
into detail, the discovery of inappropriate sexual behavior was found happening
at a school function. This is happening and being dealt with at
ELEMENTARY school age. I probably worked with some of these kids as sweet
2nd graders during my time here. We sat in subdued silence for a long
time in the car, words being few and prayers hard to formulate. I gazed out the window, at the
trash littering the ground, the concrete of the buildings and the screechy bass
of the cars passing by outside blaring music that promotes and glorifies the
exact thing we sat there reeling from. My next thought was: Of course. Where else do these kids have to turn?
Look what surrounds them: Filth-not just in the form of the trash no one cares
enough to pick up, but in words that are said, in actions, in what they watch
on T.V., in how they see their parents (some who are basically teenagers
themselves) interact and respond to those around them. I just sat there looking down
at my bible, asking God for His reality and what He thinks there needs to be a
release of here.
The
words of a Rick Pino song came to my mind: innocence is restored, when I'm with
my daddy. The song goes on to
prophetically declare the restoration of the innocent ones, for confusion to
end, and for fear to cease. I
began to ask for God to release the realization of himself as Daddy over that
housing project. For kids who have
never known the true love of an earthly father to encounter the heart of the
One who weeps over their sin, but waits in eager expectation for their
realization as heirs-sons and daughters of the living God, to be revealed
(Romans 8:15-16). That is it. Not by any human effort, or control,
or behavior modification, but by an encounter with the heart of the
Father. It's a joyful realization,
even as I look at my dear family that is still here in the thick of it: Not by
power or might, but by His Spirit.
What
can I say? Cairo, I love ya. It's always good to be back. :) If this is any indication, the rest of
my across the nation jaunt should be pretty awesome. I'll keep you updated!
to listen to the full track of Zerubbabel (Rick Pino) click here. It's good stuff.
*the pic in the top right corner (of the main drag in Cairo) was photographed by James Drake.-to give credit where it is due. :)
I almost forgot about Lent until my friend mentioned it while we were having lunch yesterday, as she mused out loud about what she was giving up. Oh, crap, I said. Lent. Ash Wednesday. After running in these non traditional circles for so long, the Church calendar gets kind of lost in the shuffle...
This afternoon, I went to visit a friend in the hospital who just had her baby. It was a delight to hold a new life in my arms, all fresh and squirmy and teeming with destiny and possibilities. I had walked with this little one's mom and dad down a sometimes difficult journey that had brought them to this very place. The culmination of many months of tears, joy, decisions, consequences, and celebration lay sleeping in my arms. I felt a weighty joy as grace seemed to rest upon everything and everyone this precious one encountered. I especially saw this on her parents. It's no surprise what they chose for her name: Mikayla (a derivative of Michael-meaning "who is like God?" ) Grace.
As I left them at the hospital, I decided to try and make the Ash Wednesday service at a local Methodist church. I sometimes crave the rhythm and sanctity that traditional services offer and always find myself gravitating towards them during this season. I slid into the pew pretty buoyed and joyful from my time at the hospital and the service began. Now, I am sure most of you know that Ash Wednesday (and Lent as a whole) is all about repentance. Think Old Testament sack cloth and ashes (hence the ash on your forehead). This is why people go crazy over Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday. 'Cause come Wed morning, it's time to sober up and reflect on our humanity, our frail flesh, and our sin. The visiting pastor mentioned in his meditation of how some churches take the upbeat songs and scriptures out of their services during this season to keep the atmosphere very Joel 2 like-fasting, weeping and mourning. And as I sat there singing, doing the responsive readings, and receiving the ashes on my forehead, I tried my darndest to center myself, to get reflective and, well repent. But you know what the only thing I wanted to do was?
Laugh. And thank God for the good things He has allowed me to see lately. And maybe sing really loudly.
Of course, I didn't. I received my ashes like a good Methodist and got out of there. As I drove away and asked God what the heck was up with all that, this is what I felt like He was saying, "Jess, I am taking you out of Lent and into a new season. You are no stranger to a broken, contrite heart. You have wrestled with me and have not let go until I bless you. So, let go. It's time to be blessed."
Woah. Do I even know what it means to NOT wrestle, contend and lay before Him in a million pieces? Psalm 51 has became a strange comfort zone of sorts. I can humble myself into sober reflectiveness til the cows come home, but can I stand in His JOY and BLESSING? Scripture tells me that this is where I receive my strength, so do I really mean it when I say I want to truly walk in freedom and victory? Because I think those two things are the key.
Well, it seems my Lent is going to look a little different this year. Like my young parent friends, my wilderness journey is culminating into a time of grace. So, I guess I am giving up Lent for Lent? It's not facebook or chocolate, but we shall see how this goes ;).
"Restore to me the JOY of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me" -David (Psalm 51:12)
*disclaimer: this blog is by no means trying to diminish the significance of the Lenten season, our need for repentance or what scripture clearly states as ways of ushering in transformation (i.e. Joel 2, 2 Chronicles 7:14). These revelations have become foundational in my spiritual walk. I am just communicating where God has brought me from and where I think He is bringing me to in this particular season of my life. Thanks for sharing in it with me.
Check out this video. If you feel a pull to go down and serve for a week, a month or a year, this is what it could look like. Please, get in touch with me if God is speaking to you about this-or go here
Also, check out this link to blogs from our media team that just returned. The Spirit is moving in Haiti. Is He moving you??
This is a portion of my latest and final newsletter with AIM. If you are on my blog subscription list, you received it in an email (if you didn't for some reason, and would like to have a copy, give me a holler.)
While still in Thailand, but after I realized it was not in my future to return, I was left feeling a little confused and uncertain of my next steps. Actually, that's an understatement. Let's just say it was a hard time. I had left everything back home and at AIM to pursue this Thailand thing and I was almost shocked at how evident it was that this was not what I was supposed to be doing. I knew I needed some time to rest and regroup upon returning home I found a pretty cheap flight out to the west coast to visit some friends in Redding, CA. My friends living out there are attending a ministry school at Bethel Church. It is a place full of hungry people seeking after the face of God and expecting Him to move in the fullness of everything He is. And some pretty amazing things happen. I couldn't think of a better atmosphere to immerse myself in as I pressed into these questions. So, I went out. I rested. I reflected. I crashed some classes with my friends at ministry school. I hung out with animals on the little farm my friends have created. I gazed upon some beautiful snow capped mountains. I was challenged and had breakthrough in some needed areas of my life. All and all I couldn't have asked for more from my time. And I felt like I was getting direction on what to pursue next...
So, I am moving to California! Crazy, I know, but during my time in Redding, I had many words spoken over me about this next season of life being one of rest, refocus, and identity. I have been in full time ministry for the past 7 years. I have loved it and have grown so much, but feel like a break from it all to focus on some things that the Lord is wanting to do in me is what He is asking of me right now. As I prayed through this in Redding I felt like the Lord was saying "I don't care what you do. Right now, I care more about who you surrounded yourself with. So as I prayed where my community was, Redding, Bethel and my dear friends who are there was what God was highlighted to me. I hope to be settled in and looking for work in Redding by March 1st. Please keep me in your prayers during this time of moving and transition.
Haiti
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know about the earthquake that struck Haiti back in January, devastating the nation and sending the rest of the world into a response. AIM has been on the ground pretty much since the earthquake happened and has formulated a strategic response for the long term. I received a phone call the Friday after the quake, asking me to go to Haiti with an AIM first response team to assess need and minister. My heart immediately jumped at the chance to go, but I felt like the Lord was not asking that of me right now. Right now, and for the next few months, I will be helping AIM recruit part time some people to go down and lead some of our short term projects we have. If you are interested in serving in Haiti over the next few months, please contact me or check out AIM's website for more info.
Support
I so appreciate each of you who have sown into my ministry here at AIM for the last two years. As of right now, I am discontinuing support raising. If you are a monthly supporter, please cease sending support ASAP. Please contact me if you have any questions. Again, thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom!
-------------------------------------------------
I will continue to post on this site, so please feel free to still check back and leave comments :). This season is ending, but I look forward to the next with much joy and anticipation. Thanks for journeying with me!
I received a phone call this past Friday from the AIM office asking if I wanted to go to Haiti this week on a first response team. My heart ached, but circumstances would not allow for me to leave the States right now. When I return from Cali at the end of January, I will be exploring some options of how I can assist with AIM's relief efforts and mobilizing teams. Until then, I will continue to pray and help get the word out about whats happening. Here is the latest update. For real time updates visit AIM's Haiti relief blog.
AIM is sending teams to the border of Haiti
on Wednesday and Thursday. We will be helping out in the hospitals and
camps as thousands of refugees flood the Dominican Republic. Here's
the latest from what we've heard on the ground:
People
are still being rescued - Daniel Woolley, of Compassion International,
is rescued from the Montana Hotel, where he spent 65 hours pinned under
rubble. Touching his face is Mondesir Luckson, a bellboy who was also
trapped in the ruins and with whom he was able to communicate.
Thousands, however, are still trapped and may not survive.
And in the midst of all this, the tenacity of many's faith, is
being shown. While the earthquake demolished their church, these
Haitians simply met in a nearby park. Watch the CNN video for that at
the bottom. "One reporter seemed almost incredulous at the faith he
had encountered. "Everyone we've spoken to - they're not questioning
God; they're thanking God." You can read the full article at Ron Hutchcraft's blog.
As we posted earlier, Miguel encountered a school where a thousand
children died when it collapsed last Thursday. If you haven't gotten a
chance to watch the video, you may do so at the bottom of this blog.
Please pray for Marcia Borg and
her son Sam as they touch down on Wednesday. The World Race Alum group
touches down on Thursday. We will keep you apprised in real time as
information comes through.
Funds are still greatly needed. If you'd like to continue to give, you may do so here.
Below is a blog that was posted on AIM's updates site. I am thankful to be apart of an organization that has responded to this great need so quickly and with such compassion. Please continue to pray for Haiti: the hundreds of thousands who have been affected, and the workers who are already in the thick of the chaos responding. Jesus, we need you to come.
By this time it's no surprise that Haiti was hit with a 7.0
magnitude earthquake last night, one of the worst earthquakes that the
country has experienced in decades. Many people have been asking how
they can help. Thankfully, AIM missionaries Miguel and Kristen Shaul
are on the field in the Dominican Republic right now and are headed to
Haiti as soon as possible to begin providing some much needed relief
and help to the country. Here is the latest from the Shauls:
Thank you to everyone
who has been praying and sharing concern for our neighbors in Haiti. As
we speak we are coordinating with other NGO's here in San Juan to mount an
emergency response to those affected by the earthquake that occurred yesterday
evening.
Four hours southwest of our home in San Juan lays the Dominican city of Jimani, which is
only about 40 miles east from the hardest hit area of Haiti.Our hope is to be able to travel to Jimani
early tomorrow morning, bringing supplies with us.
If the borders are not too difficult, Miguel
will attempt to get in as far as possible and access the nearest need closest to
the Dominican border. We imagine
smaller, poorer towns will have massive devastation as well due to inadequate structural
integrity even though they are further out from the epicenter.
The
primary goal is to bring first response relief to those in need, supplies such
as food, blankets, shelters, and basic health care will be needed. Our secondary goal is to identify communities
in which we can get involved in long term rebuilding. In both of these cases, we request prayer for
the LORD's leading of our effort and favor, and we also ask for partnership in funding our
response. Please consider joining in our work to respond to this great brokenness with the love of Christ.
"In this garden, Harvest, the seasons don't just
happen, you see? Something inside the plants craves them. They
hunger for winter and thirst for spring. The seasons enable the
plants to grow, and I have placed destiny in their roots, that they
may have an insatiable appetite to be fully grown." He looked down
at Harvest and lovingly patted her hands around the sword. "You are
a season shifter, my Harvest. You were created to shift things for
my Kingdom. Shifting seasons. It's not about arbitrary change, it's
about ushering in maturity. As you wield my Word, you will usher in
maturity for my bride. Your life, your declarations, your presence
will bring forth new seasons for others to mature in. You see, in
the Kingdom, seasons are like paint brushes, stroking refinement,
color, and vision."
Thursday
morning (after Val sent me off with a packed lunch-such a mom;) I hopped on I20
heading west to El Paso. What can I say about driving in Texas? flat.
brown. fantastically high speed limits. I learned that tumble weeds are
not just in western cartoons and they do indeed tumble across the dusty plain.
Not a whole ton to occupy your senses, but I found that I do indeed enjoy the
open road-good tunes, lots of time to sit in the Presence. Driving was a
very joyful time for me.
My
cross-country trek began last Friday and my first stop was Cairo, IL-where I
currently still am until Wed. morning. I have written about Cairo on this
blog numerous times. I called this place home for 2.5 years, and I found my covenant
family here as we struggled, contended and grew in a place together that most
of the time felt like it was straight out of Isaiah-barren, desolate, no sign
The
words of a Rick Pino song came to my mind: innocence is restored, when I'm with
my daddy. The song goes on to
prophetically declare the restoration of the innocent ones, for confusion to
end, and for fear to cease. I
began to ask for God to release the realization of himself as Daddy over that
housing project. For kids who have
never known the true love of an earthly father to encounter the heart of the
One who weeps over their sin, but waits in eager expectation for their
realization as heirs-sons and daughters of the living God, to be revealed
(Romans 8:15-16). That is it. Not by any human effort, or control,
or behavior modification, but by an encounter with the heart of the
Father. It's a joyful realization,
even as I look at my dear family that is still here in the thick of it: Not by
power or might, but by His Spirit.
This afternoon, I went to visit a friend in the hospital who just had her baby. It was a delight to hold a new life in my arms, all fresh and squirmy and teeming with destiny and possibilities. I had walked with this little one's mom and dad down a sometimes difficult journey that had brought them to this very place. The culmination of many months of tears, joy, decisions, consequences, and celebration lay sleeping in my arms. I felt a weighty joy as grace seemed to rest upon everything and everyone this precious one encountered. I especially saw this on her parents. It's no surprise what they chose for her name: Mikayla (a derivative of Michael-meaning "who is like God?" ) Grace.
Methodist church. I sometimes crave the rhythm and sanctity that traditional services offer and always find myself gravitating towards them during this season. I slid into the pew pretty buoyed and joyful from my time at the hospital and the service began. Now, I am sure most of you know that Ash Wednesday (and Lent as a whole) is all about repentance. Think Old Testament sack cloth and ashes (hence the ash on your forehead). This is why people go crazy over Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday. 'Cause come Wed morning, it's time to sober up and reflect on our humanity, our frail flesh, and our sin. The visiting pastor mentioned in his meditation of how some churches take the upbeat songs and scriptures out of their services during this season to keep the atmosphere very Joel 2 like-fasting, weeping and mourning. And as I sat there singing, doing the responsive readings, and receiving the ashes on my forehead, I tried my darndest to center myself, to get reflective and, well repent. But you know what the only thing I wanted to do was?
While still in Thailand, but after I realized it was not in my future to return, I was left feeling a little confused and uncertain of my next steps. Actually, that's an understatement. Let's just say it was a hard time. I had left everything back home and at AIM to pursue this Thailand thing and I was almost shocked at how evident it was that this was not what I was supposed to be doing. I knew I needed some time to rest and regroup upon returning home I found a pretty cheap flight out to the west coast to visit some friends in Redding, CA. My friends living out there are attending a ministry school at Bethel Church. It is a place full of hungry people seeking after the face of God and expecting Him to move in the fullness of everything He is. And some pretty amazing things happen. I couldn't think of a better atmosphere to immerse myself in as I pressed into these questions. So, I went out. I rested. I reflected. I crashed some classes with my friends at ministry school. I hung out with animals on the little farm my friends have created. I gazed upon some beautiful snow capped mountains. I was challenged and had breakthrough in some needed areas of my life. All and all I couldn't have asked for more from my time. And I felt like I was getting direction on what to pursue next...
in Redding, I had many words spoken over me about this next season of life being one of rest, refocus, and identity. I have been in full time ministry for the past 7 years. I have loved it and have grown so much, but feel like a break from it all to focus on some things that the Lord is wanting to do in me is what He is asking of me right now. As I prayed through this in Redding I felt like the Lord was saying "I don't care what you do. Right now, I care more about who you surrounded yourself with. So as I prayed where my community was, Redding, Bethel and my dear friends who are there was what God was highlighted to me. I hope to be settled in and looking for work in Redding by March 1st. Please keep me in your prayers during this time of moving and transition.
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know about the earthquake that struck Haiti back in January, devastating the nation and sending the rest of the world into a response. AIM has been on the ground pretty much since the earthquake happened and has formulated a strategic response for the long term. I received a phone call the Friday after the quake, asking me to go to Haiti with an AIM first response team to assess need and minister. My heart immediately jumped at the chance to go, but I felt like the Lord was not asking that of me right now. Right now, and for the next few months, I will be helping AIM recruit part time some people to go down and lead some of our short term projects we have. If you are interested in serving in Haiti over the next few months, please contact me or check out 
People
are still being rescued - Daniel Woolley, of Compassion International,
is rescued from the Montana Hotel, where he spent 65 hours pinned under
rubble. Touching his face is Mondesir Luckson, a bellboy who was also
trapped in the ruins and with whom he was able to communicate. 
Thousands, however, are still trapped and may not survive. 
Thank you to everyone
who has been praying and sharing concern for our neighbors in Haiti. As
we speak we are coordinating with other NGO's here in San Juan to mount an
emergency response to those affected by the earthquake that occurred yesterday
evening.