My Beloved is a fighter

The verse Exodus 14:14 has been speaking to my heart a ton lately. "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." The whole idea that my God fights for me blows my mind. And not that I didn't already realize it, but this concept is becoming more real to me in the sense that this is a moment by moment thing. Not just "oh yeah, one time long ago God fought for me"...no its the idea that this is a constant, unchanging, genuine battle cry for my heart. And that this love, mercy and compassion is not just for me but for every nation and every individual in those nations. May I continually seek Him first in all things and for all things may the truth that His joy is my strength and He is worthy be forever on my lips, in my heart and lived out through my actions. PTL. 

discovery of yesterday: everyone is just a BIG kid

So just an update: life has been full...not to crazy...not to calm...full. The rest of my Thailand experience was incredible! God did such amazing things in and through our team. Glory and honor to Him completely! Anyway when I got back to the states we were able to have an amazing time of debrief and it was funny because one of the days during debrief I really had a hard time thinking about not working at camp this summer. The Lord had just so clearly closed that door and I just did not know what other job would come along and how this summer would turn out. But i was reminded that the place i needed to be was right where I was. Anyway after times of affirmation, graduation, food, laughter and memories interwoven throughout our last few days together it was time to say "see ya later"...this was really hard but at the same time we knew the Lord was calling us all to reach for and embrace our new seasons of life. For me in that moment it was to roadtrip home with my best friend and to see my brother graduate from high school. Connecting again with family and coming "home" was a very weird but incredible thing to experience again. During the weekend of our roadtrip i talked with one of my friends who mentioned one more open position at a camp He was working at this summer (a local camp about 40 min from me) anyway he said you should call them and think about applying. I called them had an interview within 2 days and began work the day after i got hired! How crazy is it that though I am not working at the camp i am most used to, but I am working at a camp! What a privilege and blessing to be hopefully an example to those much younger then I. Lets just say this is one twist on my journey of this summer that I never anticipated but so far it has been a joy filled ride! Already i have been tested in patience, endurance, flexibility, and love. And i have already conquered fear in different areas of my life. I am so glad our God is faithful and that His love never fails, never gives up...it never runs out and it never falls short. He is my sufficiency and I will keep trusting in Him. Letting go is hard, but its a free fall and there's a hint of adventure in every moment. (oh and yesterday was 3 things at camp: tyedye Tuesday, no hand Tuesday (eating everything with no hands or silverware) and then there was french braids to be worn by all in Adelphe)

Mercy reach into save me all that I need you are so beautiful, beautiful

So we have had many opportunities to perform many different dramas and songs and Darcie Leigh (one of the members of my team) this is part of the lyrics from one of my favorite songs that we sometimes sing together or she sings with Aaron...Anyway today a sliding door fell on my foot and gave me quite a welt and bruise :( it hurt however, i was challenged to look at what the Lord is teaching me in an through this and of course as always there is a lesson to be learned...or at least to continue learning. That i need to rest in Him and i need to physically rest and remember to spend time just "being"...not simply always "doing". To stop and reflect on the one who cares about all the little things. He constantly beckons us to dwell in the shadow of His wings. To find safety and comfort in Him for He alone can truly satisfy the longings of our hearts and remind us of our true identity! May everyday i learn what it means to dwell...for He is my dwelling place. 

This is the great adventure! :)

...well I cannot believe it but my team and I are in Hong Kong China! We are currently relaxing for a few more hours during our layover before we head out to KL (kuala lumpor) Maylasia! After the longest flight of my life 16 hours I am now in a brand new continent and I am so excited to see what the Lord is going to do in and through us while we are hear! Praying now for open doors and hearts as we communicate the message of His love everywhere we go!

I lay me down I'm not my own I belong to you alone

Well today we are leaving Kuala Lumpor to go to Panang (I have no clue how to spell that) anyway yes that is where we are going! The ministry here in KL has been so incredible. We have been able to minister to so many people including Burma refugee kids. This has been my favorite ministry because I love working with children anyway! I've been able to lead songs with them, play with them, and clearly communicate the love of Christ to them! There have also been multiple times to share our drama chains...which shows so well how we can't take our chains off we need God to do that! Prayer and praise is what has kept our team going! I'm so glad we have a God who fights for us!

He is risen..He is risen alleluia

Today we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death that He broke every chain and we have complete joy and freedom in Him. It was so neat and powerful to do the chains drama today on Easter Sunday...such a declarative proclamation of what he has done....we were able to rejoice with the people of Malaysia and share a clear reminder through drama, song, and dance! PTL for all of it! I am honored to be here carrying the most powerful name of Jesus and declaring that everywhere we go as a team! Prayer and Praise have been an absolute essential to continually bind us together in love and enabling us to have a much more Christlike attitude.

Everyday is outreach day

Wow...so far I am beyond amazed by the beauty of God's creation in Malayisa! It is breathtaking from the people, to the food, to the sunsets and sunrises I am blown away! Please pray for our team as we perform tomorrow for the Easter service and a large church here in Malayisa! The Lord is so faithful and He is so at work! All for His glory! :)

"I wanna love you more...show me how to love you more"

oh ok so quick story...Meegee (One of the YWAM staff) introduced us to this song called "Love you more" and its a kids worship song, the whole sha-bang with motions and everything!  This is such a reflection of what the Lord has been laying on my heart for the past 2 weeks and kind of my whole life in addition to getting pumped for outreach! (a few more dollars to go...welp multiply that by a ton...but no bigs Our God is greater and He is our provider)...anyway back to kids...My heart is so full whenever i get to interact with any person but there is something that makes my heart come even more alive when i get to be with kids....love on them, talk to them, engage them, meet their needs, teach them, play with them...the list goes on and on...i am ever convinced this passion was instilled in me from the get-go from my Maker. I'm so glad because i couldn't imagine being any different. i am so excited to see how the Lord is going to grow this passion in me and give me more and more opportunities to reach out to the next generation to inspire them to be blown away and overwhelmed by His amazing love. To quote a book i just read...(Too Small To Ignore by Wess Stafford)....."Love unexpressed is all too soon a mere shadow of itself"... Praying that i will constantly discover what the Lord has for me in this area...He is so faithful and i am so glad i am His child. 

His glory is all my joy...its the root of all that i do

.....Welp....my goal was to write about once a week....oops! PTL for grace (even if this is just an example of blog form). Currently i am attending a YWAM PADTS (Youth With A Mission, Performing Arts Discipleship Training School)...kind of a mouthful but hey no bigs...actually what i am learning and growing in is a big deal in a sense because i am so convinced that this is where God has placed me for such a time as this to wholly focus on Him and seek His face first and foremost...the awesome thing is that everyday that i am here i am realizing that He has got me right where i am for a reason and has me asking the question: Lord, this day is a gift from you, i want to be used for your glory may i be attentive to the Holy Spirit's work in my life and do whatever it is you would have for me....This past week we learned about the Father heart of God..for some reason because i'm kind of my Dad's biggest fan and he is such an example of a biblical man i thought i understood this concept...apparently i was so wrong...Abba showed me so so much about my value and about His character and how i need to place my focus on the aspects of God that i do know and not on what i don't know. i am so thankful for new perspective. His faithfulness is so beyond my comprehension...it is such an amazing thing to have a relationship with the Creator of the universe. 
i am so glad that i do not walk alone on this journey...i have an amazing Guide! May i ever more learn what it means to abide in Him, knowing full well that He has me where He wants me to be and that my primary calling is to be a daughter of the King....may i shine SONshine more and more to everyone i come in contact with...after all i need to realize that because i carry the light i can be "strong and courageous..not frightened or dismayed for the LORD my God is with me wherever i go" -Joshua 1:9 (personalized ESV)...and "The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?" -Psalm 27:1a (ESV)...