Captivating Christmas

cap·ti·vate

   [kap-tuh-veyt]  Show IPA

verb (used with object), -vat·ed, -vat·ing.

1.

to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or 
excellence; enchant: Her blue eyes and red hair captivated him.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.  His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Ephesians 2:14-18

What a profound truth.  We can know God - have a deep relationship with Him.  The creator of the universe that made every detail of who you are.  He wants and even desires that you may come to know Him personally and begin to walk out a life of true contentment, a life of fullness and joy despite any circumstance.  This is Christmas.  This is Jesus. Allow Him to captivate your heart this holiday season, the beauty of the true meaning of Christmas. What His promises have to offer. They never return void.

72 Hour Burn

For the last three days our team has been doing a 72 hour burn.  In our apartment we have a separate room that we turned into a prayer room.  There has been constant prayer going on for 72 hours.  Each person does 12 hours of prayer each day.  This has been a time of reflection of our outreach and just sitting at the feet of the Lord.  I can’t believe we leave in 8 days to go back to America.  This nation is like home to me.  I can’t even imagine the culture shock of going back to a country that has every comfort and luxury imaginable.  It’s not going to feel normal or right.

During my time in the prayer room I’ve been focusing on eternity.  Gaining an eternal mindset. That we were made for heaven.  These are some of my personal thoughts. 

Blink.  This is your life.  What are you filling your time with, what are you praying for – the blink or eternity?  The main thing to live this life for is eternity; it is for forever – FOREVER.  Align your heart with His.  Live for purpose and truth.  When we pray we fill golden bowls in heaven.  He is preparing a place for us.  He distinctly called us and chose us that we may know Him.  We can’t erase what we now know.  How will you respond to His calling?  In His love He gave us free will and the ability to choose.  Hunger for Him.  Desire more than just dead religion.  Do not be content and satisfied by what you ‘think’ you have or want.  Will it last for eternity or pass away with life?  Is what you’re spending your life on worth all the time and energy you are giving?  Are you living life to the fullest?  He always chooses the highest will for your life.  Eagerly and excitedly expect Him to reveal it to you.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life; and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11

It is impossible to be truly satisfied even with perfect circumstances without God.  You can’t find rest until you find it in God.  Everything is meaningful in walking in love with Jesus.  Every move you make is eternally rewarded and has meaning for His glory.  This is the true joy of life.  All the best things in life are still meaningless outside His love.  No matter how good something is it won’t ultimately matter if its roots aren’t grounded in passion for Him.  Everything must flow out of love for meaning and satisfaction.  Fervently seek the fullness of life in Jesus.  The book in the bible, Ecclesiastes, explains life without rest and void of true fulfillment based on world experiences, knowledge and self assertion – where the world says ‘get more experience and more things to satisfy yourself.’  You will never find ultimate fulfillment with this heart.  Enter into a life of true rest from the impartation of His love and truth.

You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

Life is all about love and intimacy with God.  We are living because of Him.  You can do as many ministry opportunities that are thrown your way, but if God’s presence isn’t in the middle of it – it is just lifeless religion.  Therefore, it all comes back to ministering to Him, being in His presence, allowing Him to refine your heart, during worship and prayer.  And He cannot wait to pour out His blessings and gifts that He has just waiting for us. 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15

The Unreached, Untouched

One week left on our outreach in the Philippines.  I would say the time here went really fast but that would be a lie.  We had a set plan almost every day of the week complete with traveling all around the province of Davao del Norte, doing many different types of ministries.  Looking back now, we have done so much and such a variety of things!  Most of us are pretty excited to get back to Hawaii, mainly to get back the luxury of hot running water and toilet seats, which I will never take for granted again.  I don’t even know where to begin in sharing about everything we have done and experienced.  But there is one thing that has changed my heart and view of the world forever.   

In the first few weeks here, we talked with a Filipino pastor who told us about the areas of the Philippines where the people have not even heard about Jesus; unreached people, in the most remote area of the Philippines.  These people live with no electricity, their water is from the nearby water source, they get food from the crops that they cultivate, and sleep on the floor of their bamboo houses.  What an amazing opportunity and experience; but for me I felt indifferent about it.  If we go that’d be good but if not, no big deal.  A few weeks ago we began our trip to the tribe with a two hour bus ride that took us to the town Laak, where we then hopped on motorbikes (4 people on a bike), an hour ride to our final destination; the Gebabaon Tribe.   It was then a half hour hike on a rocky, muddy road that led to the tribe.  It was the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen in my life.  Palm trees scattered about the lush vegetation, a river running through the middle of the huts, the atmosphere was gentle and quite – total peace.  It was paradise.  It reminded me of the place that we were created for, where we were originally intended to live.  The Garden of Eden. 

The people who lived there were even more incredible than the surrounding.   Most eat one meal per day since they do not have enough resources on the land to feed everyone.  The kids walk 3km to school, so many don’t go.  The main job is to cultivate the crops and to just live. Their main concerns are getting enough food for the season and being cautious of malaria and other diseases.  Each family has about 6 children as they value family and relationships above anything - there is nothing else really to get in the way of that, nothing that may distract them.  The first night there we sat in the church and I was elected to give a sermon that night.  I thought, oh great, what do I talk about with these people, are they going to relate to anything I have to say.  It came to me that I would talk about my favorite topic ever – the love of God.  The sun went down and everything was black except the stars perfectly shining so brightly in the sky.  I’ve never experienced such peace in my heart as in that moment.  A pastor from the city came with us as an escort and translator.  He explained to us that although the Filipino people are so hospitable, since they are in such poverty, they feel like they have nothing to give and therefore many times won’t even come out of their homes.  This completely shocked me.  I never thought about that they viewed themselves as poor.  I thought they would be content about the way they live, for some reason or another.  But to be embarrassed about it?!  I felt like the way they live is more true, pure and real than our mindset of how life is lived in America.  Why is ‘our way’ we live in the Western world better than theirs?   Why is our way to live the right way? 

A generator was brought into the church to light the small wood structure, and it was completely packed, both nights we were there.  We had translation during our sermons and testimonies and I realized something.  Even though at first glance these people don’t really have anything in common with me, they still struggle with the same things as the Western world.  Alcoholism, the craving for love and acceptance, purpose for their life, the desire to be successful – there truly is no differences in any human heart across the world, no matter what culture or nation.  That’s when the reality of Jesus became so real to me, He truly is the answer for anyone and everyone.

There are about 75 people in the tribe.  Although most couldn’t speak English at all, they were just blessed and overjoyed by our presence there.  That we would care enough to come to them, to spend time with them, give them hope, serve them in any way possible, and to share our faith with them.  Most all of the people have never seen a white person before.  Can you even imagine that?  The last missionary that came to the tribe was in 1990, a Korean missionary.  They stayed for an hour…  And before that an American missionary came in 1966.  I was completely blown away.  Here I was with my thoughts of two days before, not even caring if our team came to this tribe or not, when to them, our presence is life changing.  To these people it is something they have been waiting for over 40 years.   How was I so naive, and blind to the reality of the situation?  I was completely convicted but honored and overjoyed at the opportunity that we were there.  It seriously was a privilege.  I felt that my experience at the tribe was more a gift and life lesson that God gave to me.  My eyes were opened to the reality of life in this world, what is truly important, and gave me a heart check, revealing my own tunnel vision that has such tendency to focus on myself.

But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him.

1 John 2:27

The Love of God

Jesus.

Fully man.  Fully God.   The signs, miracles, and wonders that Jesus performed, that shows that he was God right?  No, in fact, that shows that he was fully human.  Jesus was a human, completely.  He was completely limited, just as we are.  Jesus, as a human, had no power within himself to heal anyone.  He was just as dependant on God as you and I are.  But he was the first human being to live that trusted his life completely and fully to God and to allow God’s power to be at work within him and through him.  Jesus had an intimate relationship with God, and through that he was able to express Gods heart and was willing to go into any circumstance.  When Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, performed signs and miracles, Jesus was doing this, but what you are actually seeing is God in Jesus.  He is the first human to fully live out the design a human was created to live for – living out of God.  Continually being in His presence, His peace, abiding in His love.

A bird is defined not by being grounded but by his ability to fly.  Remember this, humans are defined not by their limitations, but by the intentions God has for them; not by what they seem to be, but by everything it means to be created in His image.  (The Shack)

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:9-13,16-17

We do not obey God because we want Him to love us, we obey God because of His captivating love He has for us.  When we get revelation of His infinite love for us, we can’t not obey Him, but we desire to do so, that we can know Him more -  continuing to purify ourselves just to get a little bit closer to Him, to get another glimpse of who He is.  It is not a command but a longing in our own hearts.  We do not choose God but He chooses us.  He already has chosen us, that we might know Him fully and the truth of life.  And He is waiting and hoping that we choose Him back.  It is nothing you or I can ever do but what He has already done for us. 

What is true love?  How do we know when we are in love that it really is love and not just what we think love is like?  In the search for love, there is only one answer.  God is love.  It is His very core characteristic.  If there was one word to describe God, it is love.  We can call God many things ‘Savior, Lord, God Almighty etc etc,’ but it is the desire of His heart that we know Him as Father.  This is how He wants us to see Him, which is hard to processes with our human heart, especially if our earthly father has fallen short of this love that we desire.  He is our ultimate Father because He adopted each and every one of us into His kingdom.  It is His deepest desire that you know how much He loves you.  How jealous He is for your heart.  He longs to have a relationship with you, His child.

Ephesians 3:17-19.  The love of the Father surpasses all human knowledge.  We cannot even begin to fathom the depth of His love because our human brains cannot comprehend it.  He see’s each and every one of us as perfect, blameless, pure.  His love for you is far beyond any feeling of love you have ever had on earth.  Do not limit God by just what you have seen humans do and how they act. 

1 Corinthians 13 describes all about the love of God.  Because God is love you can substitute God for the word love in this passage.  This is true love.  God is patient.  God is kind, God does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud.  He is not rude, self seeking or easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs.  He does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  He always protects, always trusts, always hopes.  God always perseveres.  God never fails.

There is nothing you ever have done or ever could do that would put you outside of His love.  He knows every tiny piece of your heart, what makes you you; and He loves it all… because He created you.  And He takes great pleasure in His creation.  His masterpiece.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

My life was completely changed once I got just a taste of the Love our Father has for us.  It was all with the man Jesus.  God came to earth to save His greatest love, His creation.  Even when we still rejected Him, He humbled himself and came to save us.  He lived a perfect life, as an example of how to live, for the best life on earth.  And then as an innocent sinless man took the place of our sin and died for us.  This is how much He loves us.  The ultimate example of sacrificial love.  We are free from sin, it has been paid for.  Jesus came to set us free.  We are restored to our Father.  God came and suffered for us, in our place, so we can live with Him forever in the place we were originally created for.  Heaven.  This is how much God loves you.  Specifically you!  Even if you were the only person in the entire world, He would still come to earth, and live to die to wipe away all your sins.  So He can have a relationship with you, personally.  This is how badly He desires You.  He did all this for you in hopes that you will choose Him in return.  What do you have to lose?  But you may have everything to gain.

It wasn’t until I truly understood Gods love for me, that He is the true love I’ve always been looking for.  Nothing else compares in this life to knowing God.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:7-8

For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Romans 8:24-25

The Physical and Heavenly Realm

There are two realms, the physical realm in which we have our senses: sight, smell, touch, hearing, taste, and then there is the unseen realm or the heavenly realm.  In a sense the unseen realm is more real than the physical because it was there before.  Therefore do not be fooled and act/respond by only what you see and your five senses tell you.  Choose to live in and be a part of the unseen realm now.  Because if you only live in the physical and are ignorant of the unseen it can cause so much difficulty, ruin and hardship in your life.  The world is a tough place to live.  There is so much more than just what we see.   Just like the wind.  You cant see it or its source, but you see its affects.  We were created for heaven.  To dwell with Him for eternity.  God created us for relationship with Him.   

Our lives, what we see, are influenced and affected by what is going on in the unseen.  What is going on in the unseen realm presents itself and manifests itself in the physical.  God formed the universe with a spoken word.  When He spoke the world came into existence.  Can you even imagine the power of the words?  We are made in His image; our words have the same power; He gave us that authority.  In the words we speak we create or destroy.  We have the power to create – the environment, atmosphere, others attitudes, when we speak things are shifted in the unseen.  Things move and are changed.  And the words from your mouth will either be as a blessing or a curse.  There is no grey, there is not in between.  Just like living for what you believe.  It’s all or nothing.

A few weeks ago we went to the city Carmen.  There is a large town center area with a stage, it is like a festival that is never ending.  A local pastor asked if we would do open air evangelism there.  Which was crazy to me that we even had the freedom to do it.  I gave my testimony along with some others and we did the ‘Everything’ skit (youtube it if you haven’t seen it), our normal routine.  A large crowd gathered.  Zion then proclaimed that if anyone had any questions, if anyone was in need of prayer or just wanted to talk with us they are invited to do so.  Many people stayed for prayer.  We encouraged, edified, championed those who came up.  David was especially anointed this day.  A man came up to him who had cysts in his ears.  He has had pain for years and was unable to hear clearly.  David put his hands over the mans ears and began to pray for him, not only for God to give him new ears but also to renew his heart, to heal spiritually as well as the physical.  The man didn’t speak much English and another person was in line right behind him.  The man was lingering around so David asked if he could pray for him again, there was a person who spoke fluent English and Bisaya that interpreted for the man.  The man responded “No I don’t need any more prayer.  I have no pain! My ears are clear.”  David was in shock, as well as the rest of us.  A man with glaucoma then came up.  His eyes were cloudy and he was unable to see well.  Hands were placed over his eyes and prayers poured out.  When the hands were removed, as the man blinked away the tears he cried you could physically see the difference.  His eyes were completely clear.  He could see.

The spoken word has power.  Prayer has power.  Things change and shift.  And it is not the precise words that are spoken and the eloquence of your speech, but it is the heart behind it and the heart condition of the receiver.  

Team Phil

My amazing family.

Backrow - Alex:New Jersey, Eric:S. Korea, Esther K:Cali, Esther S:Brazil

David:Oregon, Johanna:Germany, Rayelle:Wisconsin, Jess:England

Front row - Me, Jamie (On the NY/LA team now), Zion:Canada, Jen:Arizona 

The Doors are Opening

The days have been busy and our entire trip is basically planned out.  But it is not the busyness that I am use to.  Its not like work at all.  It just feels like life.  This outreach is unlike any other DTS outreach.  Other University of the Nation schools from Kona have already came here and paved the way for us.  Since we arrived there have been multiple churches and pastors wanting us to come speak, give testimonies, sermons etc. at their churches.  Normally in a DTS outreach (since it is a primary school) the students mainly do mercy ministries like building houses, and helping the poor.  We will be doing this as well but since our arrival was expected in the community there have been many offers of so much more just in the first week.

Last Thursday our team was invited to the capital of Davao del Norte.  It was the annual recognition of the 44th birthday of the city.  The governor of the city invited us to come and share what we are doing in the community.  We arrived and were treated like royalty from the moment we stepped in.  A finely dressed woman came up to me and I commented on her beautiful outfit.  Immediately she pulled me to the side and asked if I would like to wear her authentic Filipina dress that she brought as another choice to wear to the event.  How could I deny this offer!  She took my into the bathroom, and played dress up with me, accessorized me, and even did my hair.  The most well respected and known people in the community were at this event and we were able to share our vision for our time in the Philippines.  Needless to say the response we got was so welcoming and they were excited.

Tomorrow three others and myself will be going to a radio station that has tv broadcasting along with it.  We will be sharing our testimonies on air and Eric will sing songs in English and Korean.  The head pastor that usually speaks on the show asked if I could prepare a dance for live tv.  It’s crazy how many opportunities are opening up for us.  The people are hungry.

We want to start a revival.  And it begins in the church, those who already believe but are not living it out to the fullest.  Last Saturday we were invited to the United Methodist Church, we had an hour time slot to present whatever we would like.  Jess and Eric gave their testimonies and we performed the “Everything” Skit (Youtube it – so powerful).  After the skit I felt led to be the one to explain the skit and to share about my life.  My point was how the world would never satisfy and only Jesus satisfies.  I told them about everything I had perused in my life and no matter how much of myself I gave I always came out empty – success with my career, a huge passion of mine for dancing and being on dance teams, perusing an acting career and meeting celebrities, friends, relationships… etc etc.  It wasn’t until in the midst of meeting all the goals I pursued that I realized everything is nothing and He is everything.

Last Sunday was my favorite day.  We took a two hour bus ride (air conditioned) through the country, to Costello Valley Church.  I have never seen such beautiful scenery in my entire life.  The head pastor (Pastor Paul) of this church is a very wealthy man and he asked one of our members to give a sermon.  Rayelle rocked it, talking about the dreams that God has for your life.  Destiny is not of chance but choice.  Chose the path He created for you.   After the service Pastor Paul invited us to his Spanish/Filipino style, beautiful home where he prepared an amazing meal for us.

On Monday Pastor Santos asked us if we would come to the Davao del Norte Police station as guests to share our testimonies.  There is a church on the base that he speaks at every Monday.  Only four of us were to go and it was thought that only guys should go just for safety reasons if we were going to do any prison ministry.  It turns out they did want a girl to come and so I was selected.  We arrived at the station as guests of honor.  Monday mornings they have an all base meeting.  We were ushered on the stage for the meeting where we were with the Cornel, pastor, the very wealthy, highest ranking officers of the city and all the other elite officers stood at attention by the Philippines flag below.  Wow, and I thought we were going to talk to prisoners through their cell bars.  It turns out the prison isn’t even on the base but only the military officials.  We were to minister to the military that runs the city.  First doors opened to create a relationship with the governor and now the military.  Pretty amazing.

On top of all of this it is so amazing getting to know each person on my team so well.  I love them each individually so much!  We have 6 different nations represented on our team.  They are truly like family to me and already I don’t even want to think about the day when we won’t be able to just walk across the hall to each other.  Relationship is everything.

Drink From What Will Truly Satisfy

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.  Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.  I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

Isaiah 55:1-3

Life in Abundance

Yesterday was A-mazing.  The Filipino people don’t initiate conversation, most have a spirit of inferiority especially around foreigners and they don’t dare say something that they think they shouldn’t so most times they don’t say anything at all.  For the last few days the only responses when I have tried to initiate a conversation is “Yes mam, thank you mam.”  Always mam.  Ah all I want is an indepth conversation with someone!  While shopping at the G mall grocery store Zion, Jen and I were searching for items and asked a young girl employee a question.  We went on to the next isle and as they began looking at food, I just kinda stood there feeling useless. Ok, I’m bored.   Something stirred inside me and I thought, why am I just standing here, I’m going to go pray for that girl.  I walked over to the girl and upon approaching her I asked if I could pray for her.  That’s all I simply said with a smile on my face.  Her reaction completely took me by surprise and I had no idea how to respond.  Tears filled her eyes.  “You could see it in my eyes couldn’t you.”  She said beginning to weep.  Whoa.  I had cracked the shell.  She began completely revealing to me and pouring out how she wasn’t meeting her parent’s expectations for her life with schooling and a career and now she worked at the grocery store.  Tears streamed.  She took breaks in her story exclaiming “Oh my God, why am I crying, why and I so emotional, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”  I had simply said one sentence to her.  This girl felt like she was a failure as a daughter.  My heart grew exponentially for her.  A huge smile overtook my face.  I couldn’t wait to get a word in to instill truth into her.  I clothed her in words from heaven.  How our Father see’s her.  How she doesn’t need to gain approval from anyone, not even her parents.  I told her a piece of my story.  How I had reached a goal just like everything her parents wanted for her, I made it there, but gave it up.  I gave it up to be right here at this moment to meet someone like her so that I could give her truth and tell her about how much God loves her.  I then prayed over her.  Even after the tears wouldn’t stop.  They kept streaming as she looked into my eyes, “I thought you were just going to ask me where something was.”  This five minute moment may have lit my fire and boosted my faith more than hers.  My heart was overjoyed.  I thank you Father that I can be at work with You.  I would take a moment like this over anything in the world. 

Later in the night Damien (another more permanent YWAM missionary here) invited us to a “Youth on Fire” meeting in Davao.  In the jungle.  We are talking walk through mud to get to the bathroom, that has no toilet paper, no sink.  We took a city bus from Tagum to Davao, in which we had many stares at first but as we began talking with the locals, laughing and singing filled the entire bus.  At the bus stop the pastor and his daughter picked us up in a tricycle (a 6 passenger attachment to a motorcycle.  Of course right away they said they were excited to have us perform and share for the group.  Opps, I totally forgot about that part.  We performed two skits for the kids.  A young man gave his testimony and sermon, then the pastor called for an alter call.  Basically the entire group stood up and came to the front stage.  The pastor then announced that the guests (us) will go around praying and minister to each person.  The atmosphere was thick with the Holy Spirit.  I prayed over about 10 kids.  Then Zion came to the mic.  He announced that we were going to bless them if they wanted with their original design.  An original design is the plan that God has over each one of His masterpieces life, they way He always intended us to live, for Him, before sin and strongholds came in to prevent us from walking out in the fullness of His plan. 

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21

Each of us got into teams of two and lines began to form behind each pair.  Jess and I prayed over many kids.  But it is the first boy we prayed for that I remember vividly.  He stepped up to us and we laid hands on him, asking God how He sees him.  Immediately I got big brother.  I was thinking ok, I guess I’m just going to have to do this in faith and we will see what happens.  I asked the boy if he had any younger siblings that he takes care of.  In astonishment he replied that he has 2 little sisters.  The Lord wanted him to know how pleased He was at how he takes care of his sisters.  He is the example in the household  and for him to stay strong in the truth, his sister’s lives depend on it.  The boys eyes filled with tears but I felt as almost I had gained more from that experience than him.  My faith skyrocketed.  Jess prayed this over the boy.  I then looked behind him and saw the huge line forming.  Oh my gosh, help me Lord.  This was day 2.  What an amazing night.  I was exhausted and blown away at how God had shown up.  This is ultimate life.  I’ve read a particular verse many times but tonight I finally understand to a greater, deeper degree.  More real than ever, the bible has become alive to me.

For whoever wants to save his life will loose it, but whoever looses his life for me will find it.

Matt 16:25

Thank you Father that I get to live, really live.  I thought I was giving up so much, but it’s nothing compared to what I have found.

Indescribable Peace

It’s the first day waking up in the Philippines.  From the moment I opened my eyes on my so comfortable bed (so excited and shocked about my foam mattress), I have never felt at such peace in my heart about life.  There is absolutely nothing running through my mind except thoughts of praise and worship to God.  Complete relaxation.  Total peace.  No worries.  No cares of what ought to be accomplished today.  This is how I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  Jesus is Lord in my life.  He has truly directed every tiny step I have taken.  I have never seen Him work so obviously in the tiny details of my life before as in this last week.  Why should I even have a shed of worry.  So excited and completely content about my new home.   Simple way of life.  Ah, rest. True, ultimate rest – in the environment and I have finally completely reached it with Him.  America is so different.  I haven’t even stepped outside yet and this place gives me complete total peace.  There is no striving here for me and for the people there is no “American Dream.”  You can’t work hard to get rich to buy material possessions.  My job here – to draw near to God and share that peace and ultimate gift of love and freedom.

It was over 24hrs worth of traveling.  We had multiple plane delays.  Our ride that was going to pick us up from the airport fell though.  The taxi drivers could barely speak any English and there were about 8 cab drivers that were all chattering at us, pulling at our luggage, wanting us to take their cab.  Of course we got overcharged for the ride.  Once we got to the apartment at 2am in Tagum we found we were locked out.  Throughout all of this my mind was telling me that I should be alarmed and concerned but my heart was saying we were going to make it just fine.  I had such a great sense of peace through it all. 

I have always been looking for a place of comfort and rest.  Whether I might find it from a place, person, or situation, I’ve always been seeking and craving that state; of a moment when I could truly exhale.  I’ve have never felt it more than now.  In a third world nation.  In Your presence, stronger than ever.  In Him.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:2-3

The Gold Platter

The most distracting thing, the thing that gets you off coarse of the ultimate best life God has for you… is something really good.  Are you reaching out so strongly, have a desire that you long to be filled so badly that you are ok with taking second best.  So often we take what is on the silver platter that is right in front of us, because in our uncertainty we don’t have the hope that the gold platter will ever come.  Push the “good” aside and patiently wait for the ultimate best.  Have faith that He has our best interests in mind, at all times.  Eagerly await and expect the gold platter to be right around the next turn you take.  He will honor this!  Allow Him to bless you beyond your dreams you have.  You dream too small. 

He wants to bring us back to Eden.  He wants to revive our hearts, He wants us to walk in unbroken fellowship with Himself.  Eden means pleasure.  It is ultimate pleasure to walk with our creator and be restored to Him.  The pinnacle of all human pleasure is knowing God, walking in relationship and communion with Him.  God created us for love, for fellowship with Himself.  This one thing.  This is what makes life worth living.  That we would dwell in His temple, gaze upon His beauty for all eternity.  We have no reason for the rest of our lives to wake up discouraged!  We are eternal beings.  He created us in His image, to live forever.  Wake up daily and let Him clothe you with the perspective of heaven and throw off the perspective of society.  Have you adopted an eternal mindset?  Stop focusing on your weakness but focus on His strength.  Stop focusing on only the things you can see and touch.  He has radical dreams for you.  Stop waiting for an “arrival” point.  You are ready.  There will never be a more opportune time than right now.  Search and you will find.  The secret for true contentment.  Become untouchable to the world. 

Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

Accept Gods offer of His ultimate love.  To the extravagant degree you receive His love, the greater and more extravagantly you love Him back.  The more you gain the true perspective, the more your world will begin to shift:  From 'me, I, myself', to your heart adopting Gods heart and it breaking for those around you. 

My life is transformed.  I pray daily that I have the endurance and faith to continue to walk it out.  It is easy to say one thing, have a certain belief but then your actions do not show it.  I pray that I continually have discernment of my actions and that they directly portray what I believe.  Make my life an illustration of Your love Jesus of Your heart.  Knowing what to do and doing it are two different things.  I pray for those everywhere who follow Jesus, to truly live what we believe and may the life we live be a testimony.  Put our faith into action so that when the world looks at “Christians” they know this by what they see and not merely by what is said.  

I was able to go home for one of my best friends weddings a few weeks ago.  I knew I had changed but didn’t realize the degree of my sensitivity until I stepped into the airport in Kona.  I began looking around at all the people.  I saw so many long, bummed out faces, people rushing, being rude, and swearing.  Oh yea, I remembered, this is how much of the world is.  I have been in a community for a solid two months that is uplifting, encouraging, that the main foundation is love, Gods love.  If there is any negativity on campus it is smashed so fast by another person coming in and speaking life into that area for their friend.  I have been in my own little bubble and now I was being released into the reality of how the world works again.  But it made me excited.  I was even more stoked and felt urgency of just sharing my joy and love.  Not even necessarily telling anyone about the Lord but just loving people. 

I went to church that Sunday.  Once the music began playing I realized how much I had missed worship as on campus we do it daily, so it had been about 4 days since I have got my dose in.  Immediately Gods presence filled the room and my heart.  Eyes closed, arms open, mouth wide soaking in His presence, ministering to Him.  At one point my eyes opened and I noticed almost all those around me, stiff as a board, many mouths not even opening.  There is joy and freedom in Jesus!  Church is not church unless you encounter God there.

Church is not a building or a structure.  The people are the church.  Church is what automatically happens when you are living a life for Jesus – meeting with others, singing songs of praise, going through the bible together to unlock truths, and just loving on one another.  Church was never meant to be something you “attend” or a meeting that you go to and sit and listen.  Church was intended to be a place (a home) where Jesus’ followers came to fellowship, have transparent conversation, break bread, love God and just do life together. 

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

I can honestly say that I receive the greatest joy out of life when I bring others joy because He has filled me up to an overflowing measure with His love and presence.

The Philippines!

I am so privileged to be going on an outreach to the Philippines at the end of June with some of my classmates.  Where we are going, the Filipino people live on less than a dollar a day.  I can not even fathom this, yet the spirit of the people is of such joy!  Sometimes, myself included, forget how blessed we are to live in the United States.  We can basically get any physical item we want if we work for awhile, when there are so many people around the world just struggling for food.  It is difficult to put this into perspective but once I personally do, my heart aches and I get urgent feelings to take action. 

It is my hopes that through my love for Jesus, my testimony of His love for me, and knowledge of the medical field, radical transformation would occur on this three month outreach to the Philippines.  I have never been more excited to live life than at this moment; and I know that this trip to the Philippines is just the beginning of the adventure that God has in store for me.  I am ready and willing to lay my life plans down of what I "thought" I wanted for something so much larger than myself.  At times I’m scared and nervous of what kind of crazy radical life might be in store for me, but I say bring it on!   I know He is the ultimate provider.  Only He has the whole perspective and He has the perfect plan for our lives.  All we have to do is walk in it.  And even better yet He loves us so much and has our best interests in mind.  He knows the desires of our heart.  He wants to fulfill those desires.

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:26

Hakani

There is a little girl that runs around the campus.  She is actually 16 now but looks a lot younger.  She was born with hypothyroidism.  You can’t miss her.  She has the brightest smile and loves meeting everyone on campus.  Her name is Hakani and her story is unlike any I have ever heard.  Hakani was born in Brazil as apart of the Suruwaha Indian tribe (Amazonian Indian tribe). 

In this tribe they practice infanticide.  There are over 200 tribes in the Amazon that participate in infanticide.  If a baby is born that is deformed in any sort of way, if a women has twin or triplets, or if a baby is born to a single mother the tribe will take the child, usually at birth, and bury it alive. 

When Hakani was born she looked like a normal healthy little girl.  In her second year the hypothyroidism began to show.  Her body became frail and she could no longer walk or talk.  The people viewed her as there was something wrong with her; so they dug a hole, put her in it, and covered her with dirt.  Those who participate with the act think they do a “favor” for these children, and feel that it is the right thing to do.  I believe this.  I do believe that in their heads they think by killing the child it is the best thing they could do.  But I wonder what their hearts think.  This concept can apply to practices in every culture.  The people think they are doing a great justice for the children, and for their tribe so that the children do not hinder their people.  It is going to take a revelation for the tribe to see the practice for what it is.  Can cultural practices be more important than the basic human instinct – preserving life?

It is unsure how long Hakani was in the ground, when her brother came and saved her.  He dug her out of the dirt, put her on his back, left the village and out of the jungle.  Hakani was 5 years old when they met the missionaries.  They adopted her and took her in as the brother couldn’t provide the full care she needed.  She was diagnosed with treatable hypothyroidism and was able to fully walk and talk within a few years after her adoption.  The missionaries became fully invested in ending infanticide.  A movie was made about Hakani’s story.  When she watched it she turned to her mom and said “That’s really sad.” 

As of today the Brazilian government has recognized the severity and harm of the tribal practices and infanticide is no longer being performed.  The tribes now have a concept of the human life and rights.  The children are being saved and spared their lives but even more so the tribal people are being saved; saved from the hurt and pain that has been imbedded inside them and their culture from these acts.  In the Hakani movie the adult tribal people were interviewed about the overall response from everything that happened with infanticide.  They were blind but now they see.  There was darkness in their tribe but now there is light.  The culture of the tribe has not changed at all but through love and forgiveness as they know through Jesus, the spirit of death and destruction that was seeping into their lives (that they didn’t even realize) has completely disappeared.  You don’t know something until you know.  How do you know something isn’t right?

But the most amazing thing is that when we do realize we have been doing something wrong, something that isn’t life giving, something that isn’t “good,” even if you don’t realize it at the time…  Everything we have ever done or will do is already paid for.  We have another chance.  There is freedom in Jesus – Rest - Peace.  You can experience His ultimate forgiveness and break free of the chains that have been holding you down.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sin

1 Peter 4:8

God calls us to love each other.  Despite others actions, feelings and thoughts toward us, He asks us to love.  He would like our response to others no matter what they do to be love.  It is the best way.  If we respond with love despite whatever the offense to us may be we become less offended.  It lifts the burden upon our hearts if we sincerely respond with love.  And how impactful it is for the other person!  It is easy to respond by emotion and by your feelings; that is what is to be expected.  You were offended, do you have the right to act upon the offense, to gain justice for yourself?  Acting out of the opposite spirit shows love.  Acting out of the opposite spirit of what your “flesh” feels, greatly diminishes the offense and the negativity will be broken.  God is ultimate perfect love.  His love for us is beyond what we can fathom, and it is this love that covers us from our imperfections as well.  To sin is to miss the mark.  We all fall short.  But it is the love of God that encourages us to change in our ways and cheers us on for victory.  He wants to see you succeed.  He longs to see you succeed.

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.  He got up and was baptized

Acts 9:18

Every culture has a tendency to different degrees of scales that are placed into the peoples eyes.  It’s easy to be blinded by the traditions and customs of your culture, what’s popular and what’s not.  It is also easy to be offended of other people’s cultures, and it is easy to point fingers.  Love.  Like I said you don’t know until you know.  And that revelation of “knowing” can come in an instant.  But once you know, you can never go back to not knowing and back to the state or person you were before.  Ask God to remove the scales from your eyes - save Hakani.  He never fails to answer a prayer that is aligned with His own heart.

Not A Religion

Christianity is not a religion.  It is not a religious activity to do or a check list that must be completed to get to a certain point.  Christianity is the only belief where God saves His creation, His people; there is nothing people can do to save themselves; because Christianity is not a religion.  Christianity isn’t even a good term to use, it sounds religious.  Jesus follower is much more fitting.  It is not about performing certain rituals, like reading the bible, going to church, looking a certain way when you worship, but it is a heart condition.  He doesn’t ask anything of you.  He doesn’t expect anything of you.  He just wants you to believe in Him, believe in the sacrifice He made for us to save us.  He just wants you to accept His undying, infinite love that is held out in His hands, He eagerly awaits for this from each one of His precious children.  He is long suffering.  His love for us is so strong, so unwavering and He freely gives this love even when it is not returned to Him.  He waits for each one of His children to be returned to Him, for us to know and feel this love that He has specifically and uniquely for each one of us.  He wants to be close to you.  He wants to be personally involved in every detail of your life.

No, Christianity is not a religion.  Once you get a dose, a taste of being in Gods presence you can’t help but crave more.  There is an overwhelming sense of peace and joy that leaves you wanting more, a deeper revelation.  The more you’re in His presence, the more you love Him, and the more you love Him the more you automatically, subconsciously follow Him and His ways, how He designed the world to be, how He designed us to live.  

When you set your eyes and heart on Him, all your issues seem dull in comparison to His all surpassing power.  The sinful ways, things you do that aren’t necessarily life giving, of how you act gradually become godly ways.  And we all fall short, but the amazing thing is He doesn’t ask us to measure up, but He adds to us to make the mark.  He just wants to know us.

Throughout the world Buddhists, Muslims, and other religious groups are being encountered by God; the one and only true living God.  A group of students are in Jordan in the Middle East.  They were asking the Lord where they could be used in this ‘closed to Jesus’ nation.  One of the boys got a name in His mind of a Jordan citizen, an image of a symbol, and a sick boy.  The other student knew that the marking was the sign outside of the police station.  Well, there was only one way to find out if this was from God.  They went to the police station, the first officer they went up to they asked him if that was his name.  The officer looked at them puzzled, ‘yes’.  Then they asked if his son was sick.  ‘Yes…’  The officer was freaked out at how they knew this, he would not allow them to pray for his sick son, and asked for the YWAM boys phone numbers so if something weird was going on he could report them.  By the time the officer got home his son was healed.  He called the boys, “Who are you!?”  He gave his life to Jesus.

No, Christianity is not a religion.  Have you been convinced by God?  Do you live in the reality of who He really is?  He is alive, He saves, He delivers, He heals.  And He is waiting, yearning, in eager anticipation for you to accept His gift of ultimate life and love.


I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:10-11