Seeker of the Way

still alive...

2007-07-29T09:12:00.000-05:00

Summer Teen Intensive (STI) tracks 1 & 2 are finished. Track 3 is beginning. I'm still alive and still loving it! I love the girls that have been in my groups. I love the priveledge of speaking into their lives. Pray for me - that I will have grace and wisdom to speak truth, destiny, identity and love over them.

Laying down my life

2007-07-29T08:57:00.000-05:00

“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand” (Ezekiel 33:7-8).

“When the shepherd sees the coming terror and does not say anything, the blood is on his hands. I am raising up shepherds who are after My heart. Will you be a voice? Will you be a forerunner? Will you lay down your life? The hour is urgent!! The earth is asleep. Will you sound the alarm? I AM COMING! WAKE UP!! The hour is urgent. Will you eat the scroll? Will you be a friend of the bridegroom? Will you be a friend of the judge?”
~Misty Edwards (Ezekiel, Isaiah)

This terrifies me in a good way. I feel the fear of the Lord because of the lives that have been entrusted to me. I am leading these girls and will be judged on how I lead them. If God tells me to speak into their lives and I refuse, their blood is on my hands. I know that is really heavy, but it’s true. I want to shepherd them well. I want to guard them with my life. I want to lay down my life for the next generation. I want to give my life to seeing them encounter the Lord. I want to love them well. I want to go deep into the knowledge of God so that I can pass it on to others as well. Then I want them to surpass me. “I want my ceiling to be their floor” is what we leaders have been saying about the teens in STI. I want to be a voice. I want to wake up. I do believe the hour is urgent. “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). I want to be His friend. I want Him to find faith in me and faith in those He has entrusted to me.
Oh Lord! I am utterly unable to accomplish anything you have called me to. Help me to lean whole-heartedly into You! Empower me with Your grace to lay down my life for others. “Strengthen me with might through Your Spirit in my inner man” (Eph 3:16). Help me. Wake me up. Open my eyes. Open my ears. Help me.

Proclaimer of what?

2007-07-16T07:40:00.000-05:00

I have been convicted while I have been in AR of what I talk about. During this last track of STI, one of the speakers asked us what we advertised or evangelised. It is so easy to spread the popularity of my favorite movie or TV show. It's easy to spread the good news of the best restaurants or new recipes. But how often do I spread the good news of my fav books of the bible or new ways I have found to study the Word or pray? I want to advertise "Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Cor. 2:23-25) Even if it seems like it could be a stumbling block or if the message of Christ occasionally seems like foolishness, that is what a want to speak of. Because in reality, it is the wisdom and strength of God. Jesus embraced weakness here on earth and was crucified. But He overcame death and now lives. This allows me in my weakness to lean on His mighty power. Praise the Lord!

advertising...

2007-07-15T19:43:00.000-05:00

This post is basically to encourage you to visit some other blogs.

I have a new niece!!! Her name's Lucy Ann. To see pics go to the link on the side of this page that says Nathan or Amy.

To see an outline of what happened at the Call, go to my dad's site....Jerry.

I'm in Arkansas to celebrate the birth of Lucy, because of course 'I love Lucy.' I will be headed back to KC on Tuesday. I'm ready to get back and be with my STI girls.

one day

2007-07-06T00:17:00.000-05:00

It's actually, officially 12:18am on 7.6.07. I am still awake and I am leaving KC by 6am to go to the Call. I'm finished with track 1 of STI, but have agreed to stay on for the second and third tracks as well. I guess that means I liked it:-)
I'm exhausted. I will be driving all day Friday. Saturday is the Call. I drive back early Sunday and arrive in time to help with registration and the next wave of teens entering my world. wow.
good night.

9 days until the Call!!

2007-06-28T15:16:00.000-05:00

Wow! These past couple of weeks have flown by. This experience of leading these teens has challenged and grown me. It seems there are little crises around every corner when dealing with a large group of teenagers:-) I also got to bring my group of girls over to my house. They took a personality test and ate pizza and we talked about the uniqueness of our personalities. I am blessed by my group.

One of the main themes has been fatherlessness and identity. It is awesome to be able to speak destiny and identity over these girls. They are being softened by the message of love and yet challenged by the call to leave all other loves behind and truly seek after one thing. I've seen healings, deliverance, growth and change. Many have confessed and repented of their secret sins. It's awesome to get to see the freedom that comes in confession. Their hearts are changing; God is moving.

Today starts a Onething Youth conference here. Our teens are going to be involved in the whole conference. I'm looking forward to it.

I leave for the Call one week from tomorrow...YEAH!

16 days until The Call

2007-06-21T19:13:00.000-05:00

Basically I am really, really busy! They keep these teens in seminars and in the Prayer Room quite a bit. Tonight is our night off and we get to sleep in tomorrow which is a much needed break! We're (the leaders and teens) still learning about each other and getting to know each other, but it's going really well. The kids are not afraid to really press in to the Lord. They are quick to pray for each other and encourage one another. They provoke me further in my walk with the Lord.

Misty Edwards spoke last night and gave the same message I have heard her give several times and yet it was exactly what I needed to hear. I want to live for the sole purpose of moving God and impacting His heart. Even more than I want to impact the earth for His purposes, I want to impact Him. I want to find my identity in being a lover and one loved by God because God will never change. If I find my identity in being a student then where will my identity be found once I am out of school? If I find my identity in being a teacher and then lose my job, how will that effect my identity? If I find my identity in being a speaker or a singer and lose my voice, what happens then? Or a sister or mother or wife...all these identities can change in a moment. So I want my identity to be found in the One who never changes, in the One who is faithful. This same One is moved in His heart by one glance of my eye and I want to learn to rest in His love. I want to rest assured that I am one who is loved and I am one who loves and moves the heart of the King of Kings and Creator of the universe. That is who I am. "I'm in love with God and God's in love with me, this is who I am and this is who I'll be and that settles it. Completely." (Misty Edwards)

18 days until The Call

2007-06-19T17:12:00.000-05:00

STI is going great overall. I'm falling in love with these girls. I am excited about getting to know them more. All the basic things that would typically go wrong on the first day, did. But they were really only minor glitches and we made it through just fine.

It's great to kind-of get back to basics. The seminars and speaker topics have been the basic "God loves you and you are His special treasure" and you can't really hear that enough. It's fun to watch the kids start to really enter into prayer, for each other and for their cities, friends and families. Today we heard an awesome testimony from one of our STI leaders and she gave a strong call to turn from sin and embrace righteousness. The kids were extremely attentive. She testified of the many ways that her bad choices...her sin...had led to death. It was a powerful testimony of the mercy and grace of God to change her heart and call her His own.

May God pour out His Spirit on these teens and on our nation, that we would pray and prophesy to change things in the spirit in Kansas City and in America.

The Countdown

2007-06-17T13:59:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow begins the Summer Teen Intensive (STI) here at IHOP. Three-hundred teenagers are arriving today to attend a three-week "camp" IHOP style. There will be prayer room time, seminars, worship, intercession, small groups and fun/game time. I am one of 12 female prayer room (PR) leaders. My job is to keep up with 12 teens throughout the day and lead a small group with them.

Also, IHOP is in the midst of a 40-day fast. We are actually just past half-way. This fast is leading up to The Call in Nashville where around 100,000 people are expected to gather to fast and pray for our nation.

So I was thinking instead of 'counting up' through the days of STI, I would 'count down' the days to The Call. Today is day 20...when we get to zero, we'll be at the Call. I hope to keep you updated throughout these next few weeks.

For more information about the Call, go to www.thecall.com

God is for me

2007-03-22T23:44:00.000-05:00

This is a simple truth that I need to remember on a daily basis. God truly is for me. I struggle with timidity and fear. I know that this must stem from a lack of trust in God. I don't have to muster up strength and courage in and of myself. I just need to lean into the One who is strong. I want the truth to saturate my being. I want the Word to be alive on the inside.

"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:31b-32 God is for me, so who can be against me? I am lacking nothing because He wants to freely give me ALL THINGS! I have no reason to fear. My God is faithful. The creator of the universe sees me, knows me, hears my cries for help, acts on my behalf, loves me and fights for me. "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

O Lord, reveal these truths deep into my heart. Free me from the fear that binds me. Help me walk in confidence and boldness before you and before men.

Faith

2007-03-15T22:32:00.000-05:00

In Romans class yesterday Matt talked about faith. He illustrated it by having us think about having faith to walk across a frozen pond. A lot of faith with thin ice is not helpful and will not end well:( However a little faith with really thick, strong ice will enable you to walk across the pond. The more we learn about the strong, thick ice the more faith we will have in it. In the wame way, the more I learn and gain revelation about God, the more my faith will grow. I shouldn't focus on my lack of faith and trying to increase it in my own will and strength. I should focus on God's amazing power, love and willingness to work in the lives of people like you and me. As I become more confident in God, my faith will grow.

Romans 4:17-19 I serve a God who gives life to the dead. Abraham, contrary to hope (def: confident assurance), in hope believed. First Abraham had confident assurance that he was old, almost dead and that Sarah's womb was definitely barren. He was confident of that. But contrary to his confident assurance (hope) in his age and her barrenness, he believed in a different hope. He had faith that God gives life ot the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though the did. That's my truth for today: God gives life to the dead. That same power is "toward us who believe (have faith in Him), according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead..." (Eph 1:19-20).

Proclaiming Truth

2007-03-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

Recently I have been overwhelmed by expectations and pressures that I am putting on myself. So I have felt resistant to blogging. But I think I have forgotten how simple and helpful blogging can be. I want to make it a new goal to simply proclaim truth. Deceptions and doubts creep in so subtly. So today I will talk of the simple truth that God is good and wants to give us good things. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). I could list many other scriptures but today, just one. He promises that if we seek Him, He will reward us. He keeps His promises. If I truly seek after God, I will be rewarded by Him. Even if I don't feel it or consciously know it in the moment, as I seek Him, He rewards me. Oh, I can't resist...one more scripture - no one whose hope is in the Lord will ever be put to shame. No one who waits on God will be ashamed (Psalm 25). He is faithful and is always there for me.
Wow. I feel better. I will try to come here and proclaim simple truth more often.

finally - an update!

2007-02-06T16:41:00.000-06:00

Okay - I'm tired of my last blog saying something about Christmas, but I feel I must at least tell you how my Christmas Eve gift went. I was sleeping at my brother's house. I woke up at 5:00am and really had to pee. But I knew I'd be taking a big chance if I ventured out. By 5:30 and no more sleeping, I knew I had to get up. I opened my door as quietly as I could (which was not very quietly since it sticks really badly) took one slow step and immediately heard "Christmas Eve Gift, Tarah". I stepped over Elliott who was 'sleeping' on the floor at the foot of my door and hurried to the bathroom. I really didn't mind getting 'got' by him at that point...relieving myself was worth it.
Elliott and I made plans to go to my grandma's house at 6:30. We parked out of sight and crept up to the front door that we had unlocked the night before so we could sneak in, but it was locked again and we thought we heard the dog just inside. We were afraid she would start barking and wake the whole house so we snuck around to the carport door. It was open. I barged in and my aunt Jeanette got me. I peeked down the hall and my dad poked his head out of his room. I got him! His reply was "you're not supposed to be here!" Then I closed the door to the back of the house and felt fairly safe. Everyone was either asleep or accounted for...but then out of nowhere my sister-in-law, Amy, jumped out from the kitchen and got me!
After that, I had the upper hand and got the rest of the crew. So my 'score' was 3 people got me; I got 7 people. Not too bad.
Maybe I'll actually blog again soon...maybe I won't...

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!!!!

2006-12-22T07:43:00.000-06:00

We have a tradition in my family that has been passed down for so many years no one is quite sure how or why it started. It's called "Christmas Eve Gift". When people who are playing the game wake up on Christmas Eve, there is a race to say "Christmas Eve Gift" plus the person's name. Whoever says it first "gets" the other person and therefore the loser is supposed to buy the winner a Christmas Eve Gift which is usually a very small, silly gift. We take this game very seriously. It is all about the game and NOT about the gift. There are a few rules: 1) you must have visual contact of the person you are "getting" so you can't call them or yell to them from another room. 2) you are not allowed to wake someone up 3) we typically don't start until after we've been to sleep and woken up again (so it doesn't begin at 12:00am). When we go to bed the night before the game, everyone locks the doors to their room and houses so no one can sneak up on us. Most years we wake up in at least two houses so once everyone in one house has gotten each other, we are sort of allies and we team up to go ambush the other house. This usually entails parking down the street and sneaking in back doors or windows in order to surprise the other people. Now that my siblings are all in their 20s the intensity of the game has slacked a little. But my brother has a one-year-old and another one on the way so within the next several years we will be passing this tradition down to another generation and the game will become new and exciting again.

I did some research to find other families who played this game and found one website where the poster asked other families to comment if they played the game. It's amazing how many families there are. On another website, a woman tried to find the origin of the Christmas Eve Gift tradition.

We are celebrating our Christmas Eve on Saturday this year so I will keep you informed of how everything turns out.

Isaiah

2006-12-18T08:30:00.000-06:00

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6-7

I just finished my class on Isaiah. This verse is glorious. Jesus clothes Himself in humility and becomes a man…not just a man…a baby…that is true humility. In His first coming He manifests His qualities of a humble servant. He is meek and lowly. But He is coming again as a King. He will establish His government here on earth and reign forever! He will reign with judgment and justice. He is altogether righteous and just in His judgments. In both His first and second coming He is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” I want to believe all these truths with all my being, but it seems so hard.
When I cannot figure out which decision to make and I can’t seem to hear Him, do I believe He is a Wonderful Counselor? When injustices are happening all around me; I am praying, but nothing seems to change; do I believe Him to be Mighty God? When I feel alone, abandoned, like no one cares about the circumstances of my life, do I believe He is my Everlasting Father? When so many of the nations of the earth are being destroyed by war or even when the crime/murder rate is so high in America, do I believe Him to be the Prince of Peace?
Even when circumstances would lead me to believe otherwise, I want to trust the Lord. I want to praise His mighty name. He has done great things for me! He is real!! We sang today in church “I believe heaven’s coming down, Jesus will reign on the earth. And the two shall become one, forever exalted in the Son….this is reality, He’s coming to reign!” He is coming to judge and reign! This is reality!!!! Wrong things will be made right. All that has been done in secret will be made known. I pray that we would all be able to live each moment of our day believing in the love, power, righteousness and sovereignty of God. He will bring about all that He has planned. The zeal of the Lord will perform this. Although He came as a baby, He will come again as a King. If you believe in Him, call on His name and truly love Him, then that King is also your jealous Husband longing for your affections. He will remove all that hinders love in order to be joined to a pure spotless bride who voluntarily loves and serves Him. This Christmas, don’t only celebrate the birth of a Child, but the reigning of a righteous, beautiful King!!

Baptisms

2006-11-13T06:45:00.000-06:00

IHOP had a baptism service last night. We baptized over 150 people. The baptizing alone took over 2 1/2 hours! It was glorious! I was laughing and crying and then laughing again. Five or six people actually got saved at the service and so we baptized them, too. Each person baptized was so expectant that they would be fully dead to sin in their going under, to be raised to walk in newness of life. Some were crying before they even got in. One girl's story really touched me. One night very recently, she was in a closet, broken and depressed, a bulimic and a drunk. God spoke to her very clearly in that closet and told her that her life was about to change. God has delivered her from her addictions and she is now in love with Jesus. She was weeping and shaking with joy and gratitude over her salvation and God's desire to be involved in her life. I remember that feeling of gratitude, but I feel like I have lost it.

We sing a couple of songs here that help remind me of my true place before God with shocking and offensive clarity: "You owe me nothing, I deserve hell, You owe me nothing, but you've given me mercy!" and "I was numbered among the walking dead, I should've been condemned, I should've gone to hell". I often forget what I deserve: eternal separation and condemnation. I feel like God "owes" me this or that...that I have somehow "earned" something from Him. Reality is that every awesome thing He has given me is a gift freely given. I deserve rejection but He embraces. I deserve to be forsaken, but He is faithful. I deserve condemnation, but He forgives. I deserve hate, but He loves relentlessly. He chases me. He pursues me. He provides and leads and teaches. I want to remember that feeling of gratitude towards Him for His undeserved love of me. While I was still numbered among the walking dead...while I was still in bondage to sin...broken, sad, helpless, empty...He came and found me. Praise the Lord!!

I have been found, by the One who rescues sinners.
I was lost, in the darkest night, now You shine on me.
So I will stand in the Light and sing of Your love 'cause You found me.
When I was far away, You called out my name and You found me.
After all I've done, You've been more than my Friend, You've been my Father.
You have loved and carried me, been my eyes when I could not see, You are my Vision.
~Jon Shirley

prayer in the night

2006-11-05T12:48:00.000-06:00

We finally got internet at my house so hopefully my blogging will become more frequent.
In addition to attending Forerunner Christian Fellowship church which is a part of IHOP, I also go to Heartland Community Church which is in the Kansas City area. I go on Sunday nights to a worship service called the Gathering for college/post-college aged people. I really enjoy the worship and fellowship from that community. Jon Shirley, my old pastor from Little Rock, is the worhsip leader for the Gathering. This past Friday, Hearland held a 24 hour prayer meeting at the church. The Gathering took the 2am-6am shift. I really enjoyed the opportunity of praying with them. The time flew by. It is great to get outside the "IHOP bubble" and hear what's on the hearts of others in this area. It's refreshing to see this community so hungry and longing for the heart of the Lord. God is good!

It's been a while

2006-09-16T07:47:00.000-05:00

Hello out there...whoever is still hopeful enough to check my blog after I haven't updated it for over a month:-) I want you to know there is still hope that I will stay on top of this blogging thing. I was sort of holding out until I got internet at my house. I called and got a phone line and DSL service and they sent me the router and everything. But we couldn't get it to work. After several phone calls and a technician visit, we were informed that the area of Grandview that I live in doesn't even get DSL service. It doesn't come within a mile of my house. SO....after several more phone calls I cancelled all that service and am now looking into getting cable internet service. All that to say, I am still holding out until I can get internet service to really try to stay on top of the blog. Otherwise, the only time I can really be on the internet is in the prayer room...and when I am in the prayer room, I should be praying, not blogging.

Quick update - I have completed 5 weeks of school. IHOP's 7-year anniversary is coming up. We will have some fun celebrations and parties. All-in-all life is good. Busy, but good.

I got a myspace page all set up if you want to go check it out: www.myspace.com/proclaimtruth

No Disco

2006-08-04T06:17:00.000-05:00

I was at the gym the other day and I was listening to Mike Bickle’s Encountering Jesus CDs on my IPOD. He was talking about all the prophetic signs in the heavens and how life will culminate into this really awesome end-time drama and just as I was about to mistakenly romanticize the end of the age and think that it will be all fun and games.......a Sheryl Crow song came on over the speakers in the gym loud enough for me to hear and she sang "This ain't no disco...."!!!!! (a little inside joke to me and a few others) How funny!!!! Just like the Lord to remind me in such a gentle and humorous way that the end will not be anything like a disco and that Christianity "ain't no country club, either." It’s more like a war or a really important race.

That Sheryl Crow song is the epitome of what's in the heart of a typical American "All I want to do is have a little fun before I die". It makes me want to scream: "THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO LIFE!!!!!!! LIFE IS BUT A VAPOR!!!!! WHAT ABOUT THE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF YEARS AFTER WE DIE!!! BUILD UP YOUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN!!!!! WHAT YOU DO NOW MATTERS...FOR REAL...FOR EVER AND EVER!!!!!" And then I think...am I building up treasures in heaven? I want to be one who lives in light of eternity, not what is easy and pleasurable and comfortable now. Jesus, give me grace to keep my eyes on You and live with an eternal perspective. Please show me how that reality plays out in my daily life. Help me go low, serve, love, fast, pray, give and exalt You.

Colorado

2006-08-03T14:54:00.000-05:00

Bre, John, Eden and I drove to Colorado last week. We got to see Emily Morris and the Youngblood family while we were there. FUN!!! I want to thank each of the Youngbloods (Morgan and Noel included) for taking time out of your lives to spend time with us and love on us and share your home with us. This was an awesome and memorable trip. YOU ROCK!!! We truly had a blast!

We went camping, hiking, fishing, and got to see Pike's Peak, the Garden of the Gods and go to the zoo. We also went to New Life Church and heard John Bevere, Rob Brendle, and Q & A with Ted Haggard. We went to Dutch Sheet's church and the Revolution House of Prayer in Manitou Springs with John Burton. We also went to the World Prayer Center (for a set with Lance Youngblood leading Harp and Bowl!!) and we heard great teaching in a small group setting by Gil about Jewish history leading up to the time of Jesus' birth.

So I wanted to share some pictures from our trip. Now that I have figured out the whole picture on the blog thing, I will be sharing more pics in the future....be looking soon for some pictures from my upcoming family reunion.

Introducing the fastest, coolest swimmer yet..........EDEN SPRING!!!!! (great swimmer's name)She wears her goggles around the house and in the tub to keep her eyes and mind constantly on the goal and the prize of winning the race.

Noel and Eden became pretty good pals after spending the week together.

We learned to fly fish from our wonderful guide: the one and only

LANCE THE GREAT!!!! (or princess daddy)

Bre actually caught a REALLY BIG FISH, but unfortunately she had to 'let' him go:(

The girls camped down below, but the guys stayed up on this hill. We didn't want them evesdropping on any of our girl-talk!!!

It was 30 degrees when we went camping:-)~

The Garden of the Gods

Awesome hike up Catamount trail close to Green Mountain Falls.

Sheila....beautiful, wonderful Sheila!!!! Always ready to offer us wise counsel and challenging conversation, not to mention great hospitality in always having the essentials ready for us...namely food and coffee!!!!

Vacation wouldn't be vacation without ice cream

She takes after her daddy.

moving...traveling...rambling

2006-07-20T09:13:00.000-05:00

I am finished moving!!! Thank you to all who helped! I couldn’t have done it without you. My house feels more like a home now. It is really fun to have things that I haven’t used in over 3 years. I have a piano and a real dining room table. I have beds for visitors and chairs to sit on…YEAH!!!! So now you all have to come visit!

On Saturday I am off to Colorado with John and Bre and Eden to visit the Youngbloods and Emily. We are looking forward to a great vacation filled with challenging conversation (which I LOVE!), fellowship, hiking, camping, fishing and shopping. I can’t wait!

My current ponderings…ramblings….I think I have more questions than answers…

2 Cor. 4:18 “…we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

How am I supposed to look at things I can’t see? I want to see more of the spiritual realities. But how does that work? My prayer room team has been meditating on Rev. 4:1-2. This week we have spent a lot of time thinking about the Father being on the throne. John was ‘in the Spirit’, whatever that means, and he saw the heavenly throne room. But did he see it with real, physical eyes? Or is there a way to see with ‘spiritual eyes’? I want a greater understanding of what is happening in the spirit, but it seems so hard. I like things very orderly and tangible and logical…you know…1 2 3, A B C…order…I like to be able to touch and see and experience in order to understand. But God is calling me to look at things that aren’t seen. I want to understand what that means. I want to grasp even a little bit of eternity. We gave all heard it said that we should ‘keep our eyes on Jesus’. But what does that really mean? How does that truly play out in my life?

still moving....

2006-07-13T10:47:00.000-05:00

I am still in the process of moving. I am actually headed to Arkansas today. I am going to get stuff out of storage. I am getting a U-Haul and driving it back to KC. I will get to see my Mom and nephew Eli, my dad and Taylor (Lee Ann will be out of town, right?) I also get to see Sara, who by the way is pregnant again!!! Congratulations!! It will be a whirlwind of a weekend. But...I am also bringing Bre and her lovely daughter Eden back with me. They will get to stay with me all week next week! What a blessing.

Looking Back

2006-07-11T11:22:00.000-05:00

Hello…whoever’s out there reading this. We recently had a Pastors and Leaders conference at IHOP (International House of Prayer - www.ihop.org). It got me thinking about all the different congregations and churches throughout the nation. I have also been thinking about growing up in the church and the ways that my beliefs have grown and changed throughout the years. So I am posing a question or two. Looking back, as you were growing up, what do you think your church and/or family taught you about the Word and your relationship and journey with Christ that were really awesome and essential? And then, what do you think are some truths that were neglected in your experience? Finally, comment on the same things with your current church. What are you so thankful they emphasize? What do you wish were more of an emphasis in the teaching? There is no need to specify your past or present church as you reveal your answers.

New Season

2006-07-05T07:29:00.003-05:00

I feel like I am entering a new season. It probably has to do with the new house. But other areas of my life seem new, too. I have joined the gym. I have to train because I am going to be in the MS 150! That’s right, I will ride my bike 150 miles in 2 days for the cause of Multiple Sclerosis. I really have my work cut out for me. Thus...I am also trying to eat right. Plus my prayer room team (a team that is in the prayer room together and discusses their studies) just started studying new stuff. So I feel like I am in a new season…I like it. This is the more organized (because of the move), more in shape me.

Seeking and Proclaiming

2006-07-01T23:17:00.000-05:00

John 14:6 "Jesus said..'I am the way, the truth and the life...'"

I AM A SEEKER OF THE WAY.
The Way is a common method in Acts for describing Christianity as The Way of life, (Acts19:9, 19:23, 22:4, 24:14, 24:22) or the way of salvation (Acts 16:17) or the way of the Lord (Acts 18:25). Jesus called himself "the way" (John 14:6), the only way to the Father. Therefore, I am a seeker of Jesus himself. "Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Mat. 7:14). I have chosen the difficult way, but it leads to life. I will continue to seek The Way so that I will be one of the few who find it.

I AM A PROCLAIMER OF TRUTH.
Jesus is the truth. He is the Word in the flesh (John 1), therefore the Bible is truth. The truth is that Jesus is the only Son of God. He is a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth. He is a Bridegroom, King, and Judge. He loves us more than we understand. He longs for relationship with us. He wants us to be with Him where He is (John 17:24). He paid the price for our sin through His death on the cross. He defeated sin and death and rose from the dead. He is a real Man sitting on a real throne right now in heaven. He is interceding for you and me from His Father's right hand. He is coming again. He will remove all that hinders love. It will be "on earth as it is in heaven." He will rule the earth in righteousness. Praise the Lord! "The Spirit and the bride say 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17)

Our response?
I want to quote an angel from the book of Revelation who has "the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue and people - saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water" (Rev. 14:6-7)

Just beginning

2006-02-16T17:12:00.000-06:00

Hello out there. I am excited to be able to share my thoughts and heart with all of you. Hopefully this will be a great tool for communication. I will try to keep it updated...we'll see how this goes.