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.