"Maranatha"....the cry of my heart.

Slide the time bar to the thirty minute mark and listen on. It's phenomenal...

Convergence of Missions and Prayer

Mike Bickle, the founder of IHOP, delivers a message to the IHOP–KC staff about his recent and highly significant time with Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM.

Passing the Time

Below is an account of the happenings that took place during my sister's graduation.

If you've been to a graduation ceremony, you know what it's like to sit in an incredibly uncomfortable chair for hours, listening to thousands of names you've never heard of, just so you can cheer for that one person

you came to see experience their infamous walk across the stage. So, about twenty five hundred names into the first--of two--ceremonies my youngest brother, Aaron had reached his limit. Though I was content in losing myself in my thoughts of eternity, I could tell by Aaron's fidgeting that he needed an outlet.

 So we did what every other American does when they're bored....we went for a snack.

We kept ourselves busy in between the ceremonies. For instance, we brushed up on our Robot Man moves. You never know when you'll need to break em out. 

 

And then suddenly, out of no where, an urge to fly came upon me....so I did.

Adam saw what I was up to and got a little jealous. He wanted to join me, but first he grew a five o'clock shadow to be extra cool. 

The coolness of Adam's facial hair exceeded our expectations and Aaron and I were speechless.

After that, Aaron asked me to school him in my signature move: The Semi-Matrix...

And then we walked across the street to an ever bigger building for ceremony number dos. It was pretty bleak and nasty outside, but that didn't stop us from having a good time. In our opinion, it was the opportune time for a photo op. As you can see, Adam was rockin' the GQ look....

 ....while Aaron, a door-to-door Bible salesman, and me with my way-awkward duck face (don't ask...).

 

We also witnessed my parents being all cute with each other....  

 

While inside, Aaron made faces to pass the time. Lots of them. Like this one, for instance. 

 

  I made a few myself. This one is entitled: "Unimpressed"

 Next came a great massage from my awesome brother. He is so kind to me.

 It turned out to be an amazing day. On the way home, we took some last minute photos to complete the event.

The End.

I want this.

1 Kings 4:29

"And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sands of the seashore" (ESV)

"And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore..." (NKJV)

"And God gave Solomon exceptionally much wisdom and understanding, and breadth of mind like the sand of the seashore." (Amplified)

"God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore." (NIV)

"And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore." (KJV)


I want this.

A Sister's Reflection

So, this past weekend I went home to take part in the celebration of my sister's graduation. Amy, being the hard working genius that she is, graduated manga cum laude with honors (what, what?!) with her B.A. in English. Which meant there were two ceremonies that we were privileged to attend. With both ceremonies being longer in length, I was able to spend that much more time with my family, which caused me to realize just how awesome they are---especially my siblings. Each one fascinates me.

Amy is a gem; a priceless diamond in the ruff. She is one of the most beautiful and amazing people I know. She has never been concerned with the all-to-common facade of this world, but rather she strives for true identity, and genuine character. She is brilliant, and kind and full of wisdom. Her love for her family and friends proceeds her as she lays down her life for us on a continual basis. She knows what she wants, and sets herself on the course to achieve her passions. She is every bit loyal and is an incredible friend. Amy is also a phenomenal cook. It is just one of the many ways she expresses herself. I love being with my "sisser." She brings so much joy to my heart.

This is Adam. Words cannot express how much I love and respect this young man. He is best described as a quiet giant. When he speaks, his words do not fall to the ground. He loves his Lord, and his family immensely.  I enjoy being with him, as he provokes me to live the gospel with meekness and stillness before the Lord. He is a conqueror at his core, as he has (by God's grace) overcome many mountains in his path, and will surely continue to do so for himself and anyone around him as his life unfolds. He is incredibly loyal and patient, having a heart that desires to care and provide for his loved ones. He loves justice and is merciful---a pillar of strength and honor.  Adam is assertive, and has an excellent, well rounded outlook on life. He is always slow to grow angry, and quick to listen to every side before coming to his stance. He gives phenomenal advice. Something I love about Adam is his killer sense of humor--much laughter takes place his midst. =)

Meet Aaron. He is my youngest brother. Due to the nine years that separate us, I have always referred to him as my "kid brother." However, on his last birthday, he informed me that this title was no longer necessary as he was, in fact, "a bonafide teenager." *laughs*
Aaron is a ham at his very core. He loves to do impressions, and tell jokes. If he could, he would spend all his time making others laugh. He is a visionary and an inventor. He seeks life in the fullest sense, and is desirous of every kind of adventure one could experience. He loves to stay connected with those around him; a genuine friend.  Aaron is also fascinated by his uncreated God, and loves to spend time conversing with others about who He is, and what He is like. Much will be given to him because of this.



Aaron and I were not only matched with similar physical features, but also in personality.  He and I feel deeply, and love to love with everything in us. There isn't a lukewarm particle in our bodies. We love to be laid back and have a good time, but can also be very serious and intense. Passionate is a good word to describe us. We are also very caring by nature, and desire to serve others through word and deed. This common place allows me to connect to Aaron in a way unlike my other siblings. Though I love them equally, I understand Aaron's reactions, desires and outlook on life better than I do Amy and Adam's.

Consequently, the same goes for them as well. Amy and Adam are also paired with likewise physical feautres and personalities; both of which appear to be opposite from mine and Aaron's. While you will almost always know what Aaron and I are experiencing, Adam and Amy are very steadfast and reserved, never wanting to make too big of a splash around them. They process things internally and rationally, rarely found responding out of heightened and uncollected emotions. Most of the time, I find out the happenings of their life after the fact. Overall, they are calm and cool and appreciate things that way.

It's so interesting to me how unique each member of my family is. We all have something a little different to bring to the table. It makes for an atmosphere that is anything but boring. : )

Eternal Glory....

(Preface: I am barely scratching the surface of such a vast subject. For now, I share with you my completely unorganized thoughts on one of my favorite topics. Enjoy!)

I am fascinated by eternity. Truly, there is nothing like meditating on the very substance of my purpose. It's pure bliss.

The more I learn of the eternal, the more I find myself walking into pockets of hidden wisdom; priceless insight that I was utterly blind to before coming to this place of understanding. It is a beautiful thing to get caught up in the everlasting. It is in this place of revelation that striving ceases, and you are escorted into joyful abiding. True transformation. Within this place is the revelation of the glory Christ won for His beloved bride. I get chills when I think of the reference the Apostle Paul made to the church of Corinth. "No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9, Isaiah 64:4). Even now Jesus is giving us small glimpses of what is to come (Jeremiah 33:3). This glory, this inheritance, is the vehicle that motivates us unto righteousness and whole-hearted abandonment. Again, we see that Paul knew what he was talking about when He exhorted believers not to have the mentality of this world, but rather a mentality likened to that which is above (Colossians 3:2). It's only in this mindset that the Church will find her identity, and taste of true victory.

And one thing is certain. Without this precious knowledge, we are surely destroyed (Hosea 4:6, Proverbs 29:18).

the fear of the Lord...

The only thing that matters is what You see.
The only thing that matters is what You think about me.
The only thing that matters is what You say at the end of my day.
My delight is living in Your eyes; my delight is in the fear of the Lord.
Just let me feel the heat of Your gaze, everywhere I go, all my days.
In Spirit and truth, I want to worship You...

Summer Goals.

Summer is fast approaching. Is anyone else shocked by how quickly this year has flown by? Sigh...

Due to work, my time will be split between Kansas City and my hometown, Columbia (which is about 2 hours east of KC). I'm thankful for this, as it presents the opportunity for me to stay connected with IHOP's community during the week, as well as get involved with the house of prayer back in Columbia over the weekends. I will also get to see my family and friends on a more consistent basis, too. The best of both worlds. :)

With the fullness of my new schedule, I thought it would be beneficial for me to make a list of things I'd like to accomplish this summer. It is so easy for me to set myself on cruise control in the midst of chaos, and then later regret my lack on intentionality.

Also, I just love making lists. They work really well for this quirky little personality of mine...


1. Pray ceaselessly. 
Intercession is the avenue to which I find my purpose, my pleasure and the fulfillment of every desire. 

2. Join a Bible study. 
Because I long to waste time mining the depth of God's Word amongst a like minded people. 

3. Memorize the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
This is something I'm really looking forward to! A friend mentioned how her small group was doing this over the summer, and at her word, excitement grew to overflowing within me. This will be good...

4. Find a trail in the KC area.
This is something I've been wanted to do since I moved to Kansas City last August. I love to walk, hike and spend time on trails. Unfortunately, the only one I've found so far is known to be pretty shady. So, I continue my search. Optimistic? Always.

5. "Commandeer" a bike, and then ride it as much as possible.
I'm an avid bike lover; I have been all my life. Sadly, it's been years since I last enjoyed a bike ride. This has got to change, and fast! 

6. Avoid potential skin cancer at all costs by bathing my incredibly fair skin in SPF 85 every single day.
The story of my life. My dear mother has raised me to be extra mindful of my oh so fair complexion. No fake-n-bakin for this one. ;)

7. Satisfy my desire to learn more about the fascinating world of organic foods.
As my knowledge of the Temple of God grows, so does my desire to study the vitality of nutrition. "Why would I put something inside my body that pays me no benefit?" I've been asking myself. The make-up of creation intrigues me; God's design is perfect, and our bodies were made to work off of specific nutrients. So why fight the original blue prints? More to come on this...

8. Write, read, sketch and dance...a lot.
Just a few things that bring immense joy to my life. My goal is to intentionally pursue these hobbies, as opposed to simply falling into them when I need a little "pick me up."

9. Explore flea markets, farmer's markets, and rummage sales.
I totally agree with the old saying that "one man's trash is another man's treasure." I think that"gently used items" carry with them so much character and mystery that is hard to find in the wrapper. Plus, this scene is usually full of adventure, as you never really know how things will unfold. This is definitely something I enjoy doing with good friends.

10. Resist the familiar urge to despise small beginnings.
This is a discipline I am just now embracing. Better late than never, right? The only way I will accomplish this is through gazing upon His faithfulness and leaning into His righteousness. Grace, Lord! So much grace... 

11. Be intentional about getting to know the people around me.
I am very much a people person. For my personality, meeting new groups of people comes with a great deal of ease, for the most part. However, I've come to realize that over the past months I've made countless acquaintances, but very few solid friendships. And this is sad, considering the amount of time I've spent surrounded by such amazing people. One might think the ministry setting is just the place for budding acquaintances to blossom into beautiful friendships, but this hasn't been the case for me this year. Strange, isn't it? This is why my aim will be to intentionally pursue friendships, instead of mere acquaintances.

12. Learn to garden.
Gardens take my breath away. I've heard awesome testimonies of how the Holy Spirit pours out insane revelation in the midst of a garden. He would. ;)

Jesus Heals.