October 28, 2012

October 27, 2012

“As we begin to submit to a lifestyle of love and intimacy, God is faithful to transform our hearts, nature and character in ways we have never imagined.” – Jack Frost

I have been in Redding for a little less than 8 weeks. We are reading a book called ‘Experiencing the Father’s embrace by Jack Frost. I have been looking for a way to express all that has happened in me in the space of 8 weeks, and this quote sums it up.

“As we begin to submit to a lifestyle of love and intimacy, God is faithful to transform our hearts, nature and character in ways we have never imagined.” – Jack Frost

My last post was, well, it was factual. In truth I haven’t found a way to express all the going-ons of my life here in Redding. So in my last post, I presented the facts.

I have learnt so much here, it’s overwhelming to look back and think through all the things that have captured my heart. There are seeds planted that are for this season, and seeds for the next seasons, and seeds for seasons I don’t yet see, but I know I am receiving impartation for things still unseen, but seen to God.

I am learning that this is a season that I need to steward well. That it is a time of rest, a time of simply leaning in and leaning on the One who drew me here. That it is a time to cultivate my secret place with Him, looking back this place in itself is a secret place. Here I am, a long way away from home, tucked into a “small town” in California, leaning in and listening to some of the most wonderful father’s and mother’s teaching us all about the One. My journey has been entwined with some of the Jesus’ loving people I have ever met, and here we are, doing life together, and learning and leaning on each other like I have never seen.

“As we begin to submit to a lifestyle of love and intimacy, God is faithful to transform our hearts, nature and character in ways we have never imagined.” – Jack Frost

To be real, there are moments where times are too long, too fast, too painfully slow, too painful, too scary, too unknown, to full of homesickness and unrest. Just this week I wrote in my journal: “After crying it out big time, I feel the still small voice whispering it’s going to be okay, it’s going to be okay, it’s going to be okay..” what was not okay was that I only had $7.32 in my bank account. By morning, my mourning had become joy, as my dad had graciously put $900 in my bank account. My journal the next day wrote: “I WOKE UP TO $900 IN MY BANK ACCOUNT HALLELUJAH”.

There are moments of “hard” where I don’t know how, what, when, where or why things are hard, they are just hard. My normal vice in these moments would be to shut down, to stow away and escape, but I am finding my perception is being transformed. I am asking the Holy Spirit questions, “Why do I feel like this God? why does this not make sense?, what am I believing that is a lie about you? Or do I believe a lie about me?” As Papa Bill says “How many words outside of His word are you willing to entertain?”

The majority of the time is just my mind being blown. I still have moments where I am driving to school and I look at the new snow on the mountains and it takes my breath away and my heart is full of gratitude to Him as I think “I am in Redding California”. I pray I never lose that feeling, it sneaks up on me, and it’s a simple way the Holy Spirit makes me smile. I find myself dreaming of “impossible things” and feeling safe knowing that He who holds my dreams is the one who would love to see it happen. Coming here was a dream in itself, I remember sitting in a car with a friend and dreaming, and Bethel was on my list.

It’s a new season, a new season in every sense of the word. That is a lot of “layers of life” that is new or being renewed and transformed. From simply being 20 years old, going from New Zealand to America, from “regular life” to being a student at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. From being “stuck” in Christianity, knowing that I loved God but not sure or confident on how to live it out. From being stuck on how I started, not realizing that what He has given me is more than enough for any situation in my life. From feeling hopeless, to hope-full in knowing that He is a good dad who has good things planned for me. “Don’t settle for anything less than His best” is my most recent declaration. Don’t settle for cheap thoughts, don’t settle having a bad attitude, don’t settle letting yourself believe things about God or yourself or others that aren’t true.

“I was born to stop storms,

I was born to ruin funerals

I was born to make history” Kris Valloton

This week has been Prophetic Week, where we had Kris Valloton for up to 2 hours everyday this week! He is my favorite for sure. While getting ready for prayer he gets us to hold hands and says “Now if you’re a boy and you like the girl sitting next to you, squeeze her hand…” and then he releases the “spirit of cupid” over the class. He is the “dad jokester” for sure! He will also ask you to stand up if you would like to get married and take a look around and move seat if you see someone you like. 2 hours with him sharing is easy! So fun! He also calls out “that is just a spirit of stupid, don’t do that” He keeps it real!

This week was awesome, but it was a lot of information, I am still processing but we learnt about prophecy, types of prophecy, how God speaks and why, how to deliver a prophetic word. We learnt about prophets and five fold ministry. From what I got: We need to see people as God see’s them, and to know how He see’s them. Simply asking “how do you see them God?” and serving them from that place is the most effective way to love someone. Our role is to call out the goodness, the gold that He has placed in people. Know that there is a difference between us saying “God loves you” and God saying “I love you”, how does He want that person to know His love? You don’t have to be profound to be powerful, you just need to do what He is asking you to do, and His word will take on the grace it needs to reach a person. Do we seek to show people His redemptive love? Or disqualify them? what you look for in people is what you will see. Realize that the Kingdom within you is bigger than the kingdom around you. Papa Kris said this: “Why does God allow bad things to happen? The bigger question is: Why do you?” This is a much summed up version of a week full of stuff- SO basically- Papa Kris rallied the troops! We are heading out into activations this week, and they prepared us to love Redding well. My activation is the Shasta Lake Community transformation activation. We are having a bloc party and starting a house church, to build relationship with the community and love on them J. 

“Before Peter could transform the world, God had to transform the way Peter saw the world, and the way he saw people. Once God transformed Peter’s sight, the way Peter spoke to the people transformed the people. How do you see the world and the people in the world”  Seth Dahl

 “On the other side of your greatest fear could be your greatest breakthrough” Chris Overstreet

“He wants us to have an encounter so that we can be an encounter for other people “Kevin Dedmon

In summary: “As we begin to submit to a lifestyle of love and intimacy, God is faithful to transform our hearts, nature and character in ways we have never imagined.” – Jack Frost. Yes He is!.

Thank you all for your prayers and support! Love love love xxoo