Intercession & Worship

What a wonderful week it has been! This week in lectures we have been learning about intercession and worship. We were blessed with an amazing speaker, Cora Dawson. I was impacted by her teachings, and presence. She is a true woman of God, so amazing!

Intercession- I wasn't quite sure what it really meant at first. This past week I was taught what TRUE intercession is. Finding your quiet place with God, letting Him come and speak to you in any way He wants to, whither it's with a picture, vision, scripture, or His voice. This can happen during worship as well.

Most of us knew what it was to worship God. Stand there, shout praises, sing beautiful songs that were written about His glory, lifting our hands to Him, and feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit. Yes, worship is all of that, but a key thing I learned this week is that when you begin to worship the Lord, you need your whole being in it. Your heart, soul, spirit needs to be engaged, and then your body. Your whole being, you know? I never looked at worship in that way. After a couple of days of these teachings about what TRUE worship was about, getting your whole being intact I really tried to go into class worship time yesterday with that mentality, and boy did I have an amazing time during worship and connecting with the Lord! He gave me visions, and prayers that I shouted out to Him that I knew He heard and that I trust He will start working in the prayers I spoke. I am so thankful for this week's teachings, because it's really showed me different and more impactful ways to reach the Lord. And it excites me because I know it excites Him as well!

It's been an amazing week, from last week's repentance and forgiveness I've just had a complete turn around. It's a great feeling, He made me clean and white as snow. I am jumping around with nothing but a smile on my face because He is making Himself to present and known in my life right now, and I trust in so many different ways that He will continue to do so, even during the nights that I miss my family and friends at home. I've noticed that nights are the hardest here, when the night starts to wind down I sometimes just wish that I was in my own bed at home, cuddling with my Seymore :) and having my mom walk in and say, 'What do you work tomorrow?' Haha, or my step dad yelling, 'You didn't wash your dishes!'. During those times I just cuddle to my quilt and give praise to the Lord for my family, the day, and just ask for comfort and strength.

The weekend is almost here, and like I've said before I love weekends in Perth. Nice and relaxing. This weekend some of my friends and I are going to a great outlet place, and Sunday I'm going to a church I haven't been to before.

Keep the prayers comin! They are working!! The Lord is sooo good! Remember that, that He is good.

There is NO evil in Him!

Amen to that ;) Love and miss you all xoxo

Quick prayer request:

-Europe

-My team

-Visions, dreams, hearing His voice (more of it!!)

-Financial outreach needs

-Family and friends

Keepin it simple, but the impact of prayer is never simple! It's always huuuuuge.

Empty

I've been wiped out, cleaned, purified, forgiven, and made empty. Empty is usually not a pleasant way to describe yourself, or your heart.

emp.ty-[emp-tee] , adjective, noun, plural,

--adjective

1. Containing nothing; having none of the usual or appropreite contents: an empty bottle

2. Vacant; unoccupied: An empty house

3. Without cargo or load: An empty wagon

This past week our lecture topic was repentance and forgiveness. It was an intense week, defiantly emotionally draining, and eye opening. During notes we were given a list of all the different sins set in different categories- the list seemed endless. Anything from disrespecting your parents, anger/rage, drug/alcohol abuse, horoscopes, selfishness, pornography, like I said the list is endless. After being given this list we were asked to make a list ourselves of all the sin that we have committed on the list, to repent for, vocally, to the class but most of all to God. We were also asked to make a list if people that had ever hurt you in your life and simply say I forgive _____ for ____. At first I was very annoyed by the idea, Why does my past need to be brought en up? Is this really necessary? But little did I know, my past was still my present. As I sat down the night before we were to share with the class, I began my 'pen vomit', everything was spilled on to this piece of paper, which turned into pieces of paper. My repentance and forgiveness list is what seemed to be endless. I questioned throughout the day and night if I was really going to get up and share. The last one to go, I got up there, bawled my eyes out, repented, and forgave. After, burned all the papers.

And Let It Go.

A part of me was scared to let go of all the papers because it was apart of me for so long, it's what I knew, and even if it was baggage I was willing to hold onto it because it was mine. It's not mine anymore, it's the Lord's. It's been a couple days since our repentance and forgiveness day, and like I said I feel empty. A good kind of empty. I am forgiven for all my sins, and I've forgiven. It's an amazing feeling, and I know God is ready to FILL me up with His love, compassion, heart, likes, feelings, and I'm so excited. I wish all of you at home could have been here with me during this last week! I encourage you all to sit down and make your own list of past sins that you've never repented for, and people that you need to forgive. Say them out loud, repent, and forgive. And burn. You'll feel the emptiness, but that good kind of emptiness. Miss you all xoxo

'When Christ came in, that feeling He gives you the gift of understanding life. Which is everything is created for Christ and by Him and we are created to be with Him. It's the most incredible feeling because you are where you belong and contentment is given to you in life because you don't have to look anywhere else, and you're exactly where you need to be, and the question about life is answered.'

-B.H.W.

John 3:16

New week in Perth. New lecture topic- Repentance and forgiveness. I've heard from other YWAMers, and staff that this third week, and this topic is the most difficult, intense, and uncomfortable topic to hear about and to put in effect. I reckon it will be a week full of hurt, yet break through. It's only Tuesday, but I can already tell it will be an interesting week. We've been talking a lot about sin, and how much it not only effects ourselves, those around us, but most importantly Jesus. In last night's lecture I got a grasp of how much pain we put our Father in when we sin, big or small. I've only felt overwhelmed, and thought about God's pain in a real way once, and it was when I watched The Passion of Christ. I remember sitting there being in shock, thinking how in the world would, or could someone take on that much physical pain.

In last night's lecture we were told a story to try and get our heads wrapped around the idea--

There was a family, a mom, dad, little boy, about 5 years old. One day the mother told the young boy that they were going to the grandparent's house. The little boy was excited, like most children who know they are going to see their grandparents. The father placed them on the bus and sent them off. You'll probably agree, but young kids know when something is wrong, their little spirits can tell if a person is happy, sad, or angry just by standing next to a person. The young boy could tell something was wrong with his mother. He reckoned it was because they had just said goodbye to his father. The young boy said to his mom, 'It's okay mama, daddy will meet with us soon.' It was then did the little boy's mom break down, and told the young boy, that they wouldn't be seeing daddy anytime soon because daddy found a new family. Abandonment & Rejection-pain.

In later years the boy had problems with his feet, he had cleft feet. When he was 8 years old he had severe surgery to try and fix his cleft feet, which left him with metal spikes/stilts. After surgery, the boy woke up, slightly confused where he was, didn't know what was going on. He was thirsty. Without knowing what were in his feet he got out of the bed and slid off the bed to walk to get a glass of water. The spikes/stilts were pushed into his freshly surgical feet.

Wounded & Scarred-pain.

We all winced at the story, but I know my heart winced when we were asked, 'Sure, the boy had never felt so much physical pain before in his life, but which pain do you reckon he would have rather endured over and over again?'

I don't think we could ever fathom the kind of physical pain Jesus went through during the crucifixion, which left Him wounded and scarred. Better yet, I don't think we fathom the kind of pain which leaves Him feeling rejected and abandoned, which He endures when we stray away from Him, when we chose the world over Him, when we turn our backs on Him, and when we sin.

Ask yourself, which pain do you think He would rather endure over and over again?

Weekends feel good in Perth

I haven't been so happy for the weekend to be here since I was in like year 11, ha! It was a long draining week here in Perth. Since Monday I had learned of two more deaths back home. I was more in shock that in three days I can get three different pieces of crap from back home. At the beginning of the week I felt attacked emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I just wanted to be at home with my friends and family. And a couple of times really asking God, 'Should I be here? Should I leave? Why am I here?' I should have known better, because of course, like He always does, He shows up in the midst of it all, even when you are refusing it and/or not wanting it.

Thursday night, after another long, draining day, like every Thursday night the whole base went to the suburb of Marabooka. Marabooka is a slum type suburb, where a lot of refugees live, and isn't the best area in Perth. Here is a pic of a BEAUTIFUL Marabooka baby's bottom :)

As a base, we've been praying for the area, and trusting God for miracles, salvations, and just light over the whole area. So on Thursday we all packed in the base vans and headed to the area we usually do worship out in the open, but because of the rain we were forced to do evangalism in the vans! Yes, it's possible :) We drove around in our vans and drove throughout the city, and tried our best not to look sketch as, Ha! It was very hard to concentrate and pray on the van, and I thought that I was going to get nothing out of the experience, than just silently praying for the area to myself. BUUUUT, of course God had a different plan.

During what I call 'popcorn prayer', I felt the Lord place Isaiah 51 on my heart. I was super confused and taken off guard, I just kept seeing Isaiah 51 over and over in my head. I had never read the chapter in my life, and it had no meaning to me! I asked around the bus for a bible, since I didn't bring mine (mine is the size of America, I swear. I need a little purse size one) and borrowed a friend's. I opened up to Isaiah 51. And sure enough there in verses 1-8, were all the hopes, prayers, and words the Lord wants all of the people of Marabooka to know and rely on! I couldn't believe it. The Lord had just spoke my first direct bible verse to me. I read it out loud to the bus, and with tears I was in awe of how intense and present He is. It was an amazing feeling, that I hope and pray the Lord blesses with me again.

But like I said boy do weekends feel good here in Perth. It's been a relaxing Saturday. I went to an airplane show down in the city on the beach, and made brunch with fellow YWAMers. Now off to dinner....fish and chips. Yes, I eat fish now. :) Miss you all. xo

Exodus 23:20

Coming here, I have had one major fear. Someone passing while I'm not at home. Today, after an already draining, tiring, struggle-some day, I found out a good friend at home lost her mom yesterday. I had met her mom once, and in one afternoon this woman felt like an aunt. We shared heaps about my walk with my faith, views on Christian relationships, school, dreams, Life. She was a very encouraging woman, and raised beautiful girls. I called my friend this afternoon, and she explained what had happened, and I just shared with her how great I thought her mom was. Of course this has been on my mind all afternoon, and probably will be for the rest of the week.

It's crazy how you can come in contact with a person once, or maybe even twice, and have the slightest impact on a person. I would hope to, to the people I meet. I guess it ties into the reason why I'm here at YWAM. To make impact on the world. I pray for the people that I haven't even met yet that I will meet in Europe. The lost, hungry, fearful, hopeless, young, old, men, woman, children, People of the nation.

Please be praying for my friend and her family, Europe, and for me. Missing you all. xox

I've made it

Yes, I have made it to YWAM Perth. There will be a couple moments during the day where I'll sit and think to myself, 'Wow am I really here?' Yes :) I arrived a week ago. The first week seems to have flown by, but I also feel like I've been here forever. This past week was full of orientations, meeting new people, getting used to the environment, and hearing/feeling/seeing God in a new ways.

Because of this being our first full week, we had a lot of orientation, and activities so starting Monday the base will be on a regular schedule which looks a little something like this...

6am-Morning work out, which is a jog or walk to the river and back to get us awake and ready for the day

6:30-Back home to eat brekie (breakfast) whatever you can find in the house to eat, and shower and get ready for the day, or have personal devotional time

8:00-Everyone meets on base for morning 'family chores'. Family chores is where for a half hour everyone on base is cleaning something somewhere. Currently I am cleaning the base's office, cleaning out trash bins, cleaning the bathrooms, cleaning the small office kitchen

8:30-Base worship on Monday's and Friday's

10:00-12:30-Lectures in the classroom

(small intermission in between for tea time, where we get fed HEAPS of tea and sweet bread/donut/treats and fruit)

12:30-LUNCH/free time

3:30-I head off to my work duty! Yes, work duty. Every student is assigned a work duty to help the base out. I am working in hospitality. In hospitality we bake cakes and make cards for birthdays, iron, wash laundry, take care of guest speakers, I basically call it the HOUSE MOTHER/WIFE of the base ;)

5:30-Dinner time. After dinner there could be free time, or we do stuff together as a school and/or base. Thursday nights after dinner we go into the community for evangelism and on Friday nights we have a service for the base and the city is welcomed as well.

It's quite the schedule, and since you know I am all about schedules and being on time, I think I will adapt well. It makes the days go by fast, and makes you appreciate your 'down' time. This past week in lectures we learned about hearing God's voice in different ways. So during my down time I really tried to hear God speak. And when I was doing my creative journal (our weekly homework) I really tried to ask questions, seek and hear Him. We had the same speaker throughout the week, and he did great. Even in the last few days I've seen and heard God through His word, and other people. It's awesome confirmation. In these confirmations He has called me His daughter, and once again which I've heard so many times being that I am a GEM (Isaiah 54:11-12). During the first few days of being here I was really discouraged, UN-motivated, not wanting to be here or wanting prayer, or wanting to pray myself. On top of it I was sick, super runny nose and con jested. Satan totally seemed to play off that and give me all those condemnation type thoughts. In the last couple days, like I've said God has shown up.

I miss my friends and family at home, I can even say I miss Rochester a LITTLE bit ;) It's not such a bad place after all... but it's a great feeling to know that during this season of my life this is where the Lord is wanting me. And at the end of a crappy or great day I know that's all the comfort I need.

More to come! Enjoy your weekend..miss you all! xo