I can't believe 2009 is coming to an end so quickly! It's been such a great year covered by God's grace and beaming with His faithfulness. I'm ever-grateful! So pumped for TwentyTen and all that it holds. I'm filled with an ever-deepening "joyful anticipation" (check out Romans 8:21 MSG) for the future, for such a time as this, for the days I was created to live, experience, and influence!
My personal vision for 2010 is to truly love God and people in an even more real and authentic way, for everything else truly flows from that. It's going to be a great year! :-)
I'm so sorry I haven't gotten a chance to update this and everyone asks me what I'm actually doing, so - as a New Year's resolution of sorts - I'll try to get up a blog that actually describes what I'm doing that might clear up some things for you all. Haha!
Have a safe and happy New Year's. I truly believe 2010 is going to be a year of harvest, more than anything we've experienced thus far. Prayers are going to be answered: our unsaved loved ones are going to come to Jesus, our families are going to be healed and whole, and we're going to step into our destinies! It's going to be the Church's finest hour as we get even closer to ushering in the Return of our Glorious Savior. Stay strong and keep the faith - THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!! :-D
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
It's like a Vacation....
This is probably my favorite part of being an intern.... we get the whole WEEK off for Thanksgiving!!! Such a blessing. As a result, I am currently home thoroughly enjoying my queen-size bed and FREE LAUNDRY!! (haha, Gabriel!)
November has literally FLOWN by and I can't believe 2009 is coming to an end. As far as the internship goes, November has been a pretty normal month, especially compared to how October was! I've gotten to sing on the Kirkland stage twice this month and had so much fun. This Sunday was a total surprise because we got to sing with Pastor Wendy, who I've heard so much about. She has a great voice! Such an honor to sing with her, and I'm just a first-year intern!
I love the people here and am getting to know them so much better; we truly are like a big family. I have to tell this MIRACLE that God performed in one of the lives of my friend and fellow intern! Before Interns even started, we had a downpayment of $2000 or so. This lady in my friend's life said she wanted to bless her and pay for her downpayment. Of course, my friend was so grateful - God had answered her prayer! As the weeks passed, she got an email from the church's accounting office stating that the lady's payment hadn't been received so my friend now owes the $1500 or $2000. My friend had lost her job a few weeks before and had NO way to pay the money back. What's great is that this internship program and the pastors here work with us on our financial situations. They look for any reason to keep us here because they feel they are responsible for us! Even with all that in mind, they told her she'd have to leave if she didn't get enough money by the time we got off for Thanksgiving Break. She needed a miracle. So, our pastor brought the situation to all of the interns and asked that if we could give anything, it'd be greatly appreciated. But he made it clear that if we're strapped for money, it would be unwise for us to do so. For those who weren't in a financial situation, please just give the money to him, because if we don't raise enough money, he's just going to give it back to the individual people. But he also said that he's seen interns raise $5000 for several interns who were in similar situations in years past. We had about 24 hours until the deadline. HERE'S THE MIRACLE: by the end of lunch, several hundreds of dollars had been raised and by the next morning, enough had been raised so she could stay!!!! God is so faithful.... Yet again, He has taken what the Devil meant for evil and has turned it around for good!!! If that doesn't describe the local church, I don't know what does. Seriously.
As for my break, I'm looking forward to doing some sleeping, hanging out with all the friends who are also coming home, and spending time with family while eating some delicious food. I'll be at both my home churches this weekend and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!
THANK YOU, to all of you who keep me in your prayers! It means so much and truly makes a difference in my life.
God is so good and we have SO MUCH to be thankful for! Have a fantastic Thanksgiving, everyone! :-)
November has literally FLOWN by and I can't believe 2009 is coming to an end. As far as the internship goes, November has been a pretty normal month, especially compared to how October was! I've gotten to sing on the Kirkland stage twice this month and had so much fun. This Sunday was a total surprise because we got to sing with Pastor Wendy, who I've heard so much about. She has a great voice! Such an honor to sing with her, and I'm just a first-year intern!
I love the people here and am getting to know them so much better; we truly are like a big family. I have to tell this MIRACLE that God performed in one of the lives of my friend and fellow intern! Before Interns even started, we had a downpayment of $2000 or so. This lady in my friend's life said she wanted to bless her and pay for her downpayment. Of course, my friend was so grateful - God had answered her prayer! As the weeks passed, she got an email from the church's accounting office stating that the lady's payment hadn't been received so my friend now owes the $1500 or $2000. My friend had lost her job a few weeks before and had NO way to pay the money back. What's great is that this internship program and the pastors here work with us on our financial situations. They look for any reason to keep us here because they feel they are responsible for us! Even with all that in mind, they told her she'd have to leave if she didn't get enough money by the time we got off for Thanksgiving Break. She needed a miracle. So, our pastor brought the situation to all of the interns and asked that if we could give anything, it'd be greatly appreciated. But he made it clear that if we're strapped for money, it would be unwise for us to do so. For those who weren't in a financial situation, please just give the money to him, because if we don't raise enough money, he's just going to give it back to the individual people. But he also said that he's seen interns raise $5000 for several interns who were in similar situations in years past. We had about 24 hours until the deadline. HERE'S THE MIRACLE: by the end of lunch, several hundreds of dollars had been raised and by the next morning, enough had been raised so she could stay!!!! God is so faithful.... Yet again, He has taken what the Devil meant for evil and has turned it around for good!!! If that doesn't describe the local church, I don't know what does. Seriously.
As for my break, I'm looking forward to doing some sleeping, hanging out with all the friends who are also coming home, and spending time with family while eating some delicious food. I'll be at both my home churches this weekend and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!
THANK YOU, to all of you who keep me in your prayers! It means so much and truly makes a difference in my life.
God is so good and we have SO MUCH to be thankful for! Have a fantastic Thanksgiving, everyone! :-)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
A Time to Rest
Oh man, I had such a restful weekend, which was such a blessing when you consider the CRAZY past 3 weeks we've had. I slept in super late yesterday and just kind of relaxed until I went to some church stuff that night. Then I was up quite early this morning because I'm now in the media track for the next 2 months! So I got to operate an actual camera today, and they said I actually did a good job. Who knew? Haha!
God's given me SUCH favor here in the music department, and the creative arts pastor asked if I'd be a part of the gospel group he's putting together. I agreed, and another first-year intern from New York is also in it. (Her voice is beautiful!!) Thursday was our first rehearsal and it went really well. We just got to know each other and worked on a couple songs we'll be performing. Our first "performance" or whatever is Nov. 15, which is also the week I'm scheduled to sing so it should be good! If you're not doing anything, you should come down - it'll be fun. :-)
I've been talking to other interns and everyone is saying that our year/class is so different from last year's. Especially as far as musicians are concerned, they've never had a first-year class so talented. So many of us have already been on a Sunday worship team at one of the church's 6 campuses - so exciting! We're being utilized and leading right from the get-go.... which is so cool considering that I expected to not lead at all for the 9 months I'm going to be here. I was willing to give it up and go "undercover," if you will, and just learn and be kind of "faceless." But God had other plans, and He just keeps surprising me! And not just me, but other interns as well. We totally came to this internship willing to serve, learn, and grow, without ever stepping foot onto a stage. But God is so faithful, and He gives us the desires of our hearts when we delight in Him! It's exciting to see His plans unfold. :-)
Thanksgiving Break is the last week of November and it'll be so nice to go home, see family and friends and have homecooked meals! Haha!
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter (www.twitter.com/feleshaaa) to stay up-to-date on what's happening. If you have any questions, just comment this or contact me on Facebook. The internet is so useful! :-) Praying blessings over you all in your spheres of life! God bless!!!
God's given me SUCH favor here in the music department, and the creative arts pastor asked if I'd be a part of the gospel group he's putting together. I agreed, and another first-year intern from New York is also in it. (Her voice is beautiful!!) Thursday was our first rehearsal and it went really well. We just got to know each other and worked on a couple songs we'll be performing. Our first "performance" or whatever is Nov. 15, which is also the week I'm scheduled to sing so it should be good! If you're not doing anything, you should come down - it'll be fun. :-)
I've been talking to other interns and everyone is saying that our year/class is so different from last year's. Especially as far as musicians are concerned, they've never had a first-year class so talented. So many of us have already been on a Sunday worship team at one of the church's 6 campuses - so exciting! We're being utilized and leading right from the get-go.... which is so cool considering that I expected to not lead at all for the 9 months I'm going to be here. I was willing to give it up and go "undercover," if you will, and just learn and be kind of "faceless." But God had other plans, and He just keeps surprising me! And not just me, but other interns as well. We totally came to this internship willing to serve, learn, and grow, without ever stepping foot onto a stage. But God is so faithful, and He gives us the desires of our hearts when we delight in Him! It's exciting to see His plans unfold. :-)
Thanksgiving Break is the last week of November and it'll be so nice to go home, see family and friends and have homecooked meals! Haha!
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter (www.twitter.com/feleshaaa) to stay up-to-date on what's happening. If you have any questions, just comment this or contact me on Facebook. The internet is so useful! :-) Praying blessings over you all in your spheres of life! God bless!!!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Always playing catch-up....
DC was great, but INTENSE. We did hardcore work on the church there to prepare for their banquet. It was fun and everyone refers to us as the dream team cuz we had such an awesome group of interns! I also got to see my extended family on my mom's side which I haven't seen in 6 years and my good friend who goes to university in DC, so that was great!
Prosperity with a Purpose Conference was tiring, but FANTASTIC! I gained such a new perspective about tithing, money, and how God can bless it. The point isn't money or somehow manipulating God into blessing us, but it's about being obedient to what God tells us to do. Pastor Robert Morris from Texas is the MAN, by the way! LOVED his preaching!
Our church lost a dear pastor this Sunday morning, so please be praying for our congregation as we go through the grieving process. Thank you!
Prosperity with a Purpose Conference was tiring, but FANTASTIC! I gained such a new perspective about tithing, money, and how God can bless it. The point isn't money or somehow manipulating God into blessing us, but it's about being obedient to what God tells us to do. Pastor Robert Morris from Texas is the MAN, by the way! LOVED his preaching!
Our church lost a dear pastor this Sunday morning, so please be praying for our congregation as we go through the grieving process. Thank you!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Super Quick Update!
HELLO! Sorry it's been so long. We are SO busy all the time and there's so much going on.... Church has been great, classes are AWESOME, and our ministry tracks are challenging. My first track has been evangelism, which we did at UW. VERY challenging. Totally out of my comfort zone. This week I start the new ministry track, which is administration specifically for the youth ministry. But I'll have to miss it because I'll be in WASHINGTON D.C.!!!! That's right! I'm leaving tomorrow morning for our missions trip to D.C. We'll be doing some construction stuff at the church over there as well as helping in their Vision Banquet, praying at the National Prayer Center, and being tourists. :-) It's a great group of students going and I'm excited!
God's given me so much favor with music and the worship program here. We had auditions and I made it on the worship team for the main campus! SO, this means that I'm on the regular rotation at the main campus, which will be in front of a few thousand people! Ah! SO PUMPED!!! :-) My first Sunday is Nov. 15, and I'm the only girl on the team! (Which means I'll be heard haha) The music pastor here is so nice and loved me almost immediately, which is so fantastic! So God is continuing to give me great favor. I'm so grateful! :-)
God's given me so much favor with music and the worship program here. We had auditions and I made it on the worship team for the main campus! SO, this means that I'm on the regular rotation at the main campus, which will be in front of a few thousand people! Ah! SO PUMPED!!! :-) My first Sunday is Nov. 15, and I'm the only girl on the team! (Which means I'll be heard haha) The music pastor here is so nice and loved me almost immediately, which is so fantastic! So God is continuing to give me great favor. I'm so grateful! :-)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
First official day of Interns
showed up almost an hour late to the worship/prayer meeting @ UW this morning due to traffic and a driver who forgot his key (haha!), but it was still awesome. pastor jude led us as he talked about how the disciples received boldness after meeting together in the Holy Spirit. he called all the 2nd year interns to the front to receive prayer for an increased boldness and leadership than they've previously experienced. then the 2nd years turned around & prayed for us, the 1st year interns.
various girls prayed for me and one girl is a resident's assistant. she said she had a word for me, which was based from 2 Tim. 2:1-22. and i love verse 22, so i read the whole passage today.
she kept saying how i'm not an ordinary tool in the hands of the Lord, but a special tool. this year is going to be such a life-changing year for me and i won't recognize who i am by the end of it. i'm a leader and will even lead the 2nd years. at times it may feel like God is picking on me, but He's shining and preparing me that much more because i'm such a special tool. this year is my time to shine.
WOW! i was quite moved by that and just so excited to see what this year holds. :-)
we started our classes today: basic doctrine & local church. oh my word i LOVE my local church class!!!! the content is super interesting and pastor jon's a great teacher. this year's going to be amazing!!! stay tuned, peeps, and be praying! :-)
various girls prayed for me and one girl is a resident's assistant. she said she had a word for me, which was based from 2 Tim. 2:1-22. and i love verse 22, so i read the whole passage today.
2 Timothy 2:1-22 (NIV)
1"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
A Workman Approved by God
14Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
WOW! i was quite moved by that and just so excited to see what this year holds. :-)
we started our classes today: basic doctrine & local church. oh my word i LOVE my local church class!!!! the content is super interesting and pastor jon's a great teacher. this year's going to be amazing!!! stay tuned, peeps, and be praying! :-)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Overwhelmed
so much has been going on i barely have time to get on the internet anymore! but just thought i'd jot down some quick thoughts before my laptop battery dies....
i've been feeling so completely overwhelmed with God, His calling and anointing on my life, and what He wants to do in and through me.... we were at the prayer meeting on sat. night and i pretty much just bawled my eyes out the whole time. i was just so desperate to give God my EVERYTHING you know? i just want to live for Him. that's IT.
and we pray "we want more of God," right? and i was trying to pray that, but something inside of me was like, "God, i don't know much more i can handle of you! i'm almost scared to ask for more.... i just don't know how much more i can physically and spiritually take!" not out of anger or frustration, but i've been feeling like i'm a cup that's filled to the brim and shaking, tempted to tip over, but i'm scared.... i mean, what happens when i overflow??? interesting thoughts.... lots to ponder....
God is so good and He's been making a way for me.... His favor in and on my life is so evident.... even in my singing. He's used the most unexpected things to bring Him fame and glory. so amazing. people want to know my name and who i am, and if i'm trying out for the worship team or not.... and i literally only sang 1min worth of music.... and i wasn't even trying or "worshiping" necessarily.... i was in "competition" mode LOL anyways, God is incredible, honored to serve Him, and i'm off to an adventuresome week!
classes start tomorrow. we'll be at UW in the morning and then coming back to the dorms for our classes. please keep me in your prayers! thanks! :-)
i've been feeling so completely overwhelmed with God, His calling and anointing on my life, and what He wants to do in and through me.... we were at the prayer meeting on sat. night and i pretty much just bawled my eyes out the whole time. i was just so desperate to give God my EVERYTHING you know? i just want to live for Him. that's IT.
and we pray "we want more of God," right? and i was trying to pray that, but something inside of me was like, "God, i don't know much more i can handle of you! i'm almost scared to ask for more.... i just don't know how much more i can physically and spiritually take!" not out of anger or frustration, but i've been feeling like i'm a cup that's filled to the brim and shaking, tempted to tip over, but i'm scared.... i mean, what happens when i overflow??? interesting thoughts.... lots to ponder....
God is so good and He's been making a way for me.... His favor in and on my life is so evident.... even in my singing. He's used the most unexpected things to bring Him fame and glory. so amazing. people want to know my name and who i am, and if i'm trying out for the worship team or not.... and i literally only sang 1min worth of music.... and i wasn't even trying or "worshiping" necessarily.... i was in "competition" mode LOL anyways, God is incredible, honored to serve Him, and i'm off to an adventuresome week!
classes start tomorrow. we'll be at UW in the morning and then coming back to the dorms for our classes. please keep me in your prayers! thanks! :-)
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Day 3 @ Generation Interns
Everything is so different here. The spiritual climate is intense and great and so real. The evidence of a true relationship with God is so apparent in the lives of these people. Tonight was the Vision Banquet for the church and on the way there, the girl I rode with said, “Hey girls, let’s pray for tonight.” And another girl said, “Wow, I was thinking the exact same thing!” I didn’t pray because I didn’t even know what to pray for (haha!), but we already had worship music playing in the car so we began praying in tongues and each girl led out.
This church is BUILT on prayer. It is the absolute foundation of the church and it is of the utmost importance. On Saturday nights the church gathers to worship and pray for over 2 hours. WOW! That was Day 2 of GI and a great way to start off a weekend of services across Seattle. Worship and prayer were SO made for each other and I LOVE that this church has a live worship band to sort of “kickoff” the time of prayer. It just prepares your heart and makes the prayer part so much easier…. Pastor Judah said it so well during the prayer service that as you adore, magnify, and focus on Jesus, you can’t help but talk to Him! It’s so true. I always thought of prayer meetings as being sterile, serious, and a “cold turkey” style of praying, but this has changed my mind. It’s so easy to worship and pray for 2 hours!
I’m quickly learning that preparation and expectation can make or break my experiences in corporate gatherings. When we don’t take the time to prepare and expect, our corporate experiences end up becoming a spiritual light switch that we turn on or off. There’s no deep connection, no practical application, and no lasting fruit. When we do take those few extra minutes in the car or whatever, it’s a more steady flow, if you will. God’s presence and anointing don’t start and stop - rather, they are constant and ever-present, waiting for us to simply acknowledge and respond. Playing worship music in my car before and after service prepares and maintains my heart - keeps me in a state of worship and brings my attention back to God. And as I stir myself up, or as my spirit man is released and allowed to be free, my expectation for the corporate gathering grows. I’m preparing my own heart and raising my own expectations for what God wants to do and say during the service - in my own life as well as the lives of others. I think that’s a massive part of being a mature Christian - we’re no longer dependant upon the worship leader to lead us into the presence of God, or to get us excited about God. No - we’re taking ownership and ENTERING the service with focused, grateful, worshipful hearts - ready to lavish our King with praises and adoration. We’ve taken the time to prepare our hearts before God - to leave our baggage, our stressful weeks, dysfunctional family situations, discouraging thoughts, etc. behind and enter His courts with thanksgiving. Can you imagine how much that would bless your worship leader??? As a worship leader myself, I’ve noticed that people can become dependant on whoever is leading the music a certain week and lose focus of what it is we’re after here, which is Jesus. At times, it felt like every week I was reminding the people WHO God is and WHY He’s worthy of our praise. BUT WAIT!!! I’m exhorting the mature Christians who should already know why our God is so great and greatly to be praised! When each individual, each family that comes to church takes the time to set their hearts on the loving Creator of all, which in turn builds their expectation, you’ll see and experience a huge change in the spiritual climate of the service. I dare you! TRY IT! I know it would bless your worship leader tremendously and would allow them to truly focus on listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit instead on dragging you into the presence of the Most Holy One.
Everybody’s been saying how awesome this year is going to be for us 1st-year interns and how, by the end of the year, we’re not even going to know who we were when we started. And that’s all cool and fun, but I totally felt God speaking to me during the prayer meeting. Tears began to fall from my eyes as I just opened my spirit and received the word that the Lord was speaking to me: I’m in for the ride, opportunity, and experience of my life - I’m going to be so changed and different - I’m meant to be here.
This was my first time ever attending a Sunday morning service, and it was FANTASTIC. We ended up sitting in the front row! It was so crazy sitting there listening to Pastor Judah preach and thinking, “Wow…. This is my church now; he’s my pastor now.” (I guess it’s the whole ownership thing and adjusting to the new things that are happening!) Worship was great and had a good mix of songs from everybody - one of their own original songs, one by Hillsong, one by Leeland, one by Chris Tomlin, and one other I think. A little while later Pastor Judah came up and preached from Ephesians 2:1-10, primarily focusing on the last verse and the phrase “prepared beforehand.” It was PERFECT and just the thing all of us 1st-years needed to hear. GO DOWNLOAD THE MESSAGE RIGHT NOW!!! I’m just so confident that this is where I’m meant to be and I can now rest in that and enjoy this journey that’s unfolding before me. This is destiny!
I’m meeting the greatest people here. One girl’s in her mid-twenties I think and she’s been heralded as one of the greatest worship leaders from Christ for the Nations in Texas with a voice like Janice Joplin! Her voice is beautiful and you can tell she’s anointed to lead worship. (So many girls here can sing and have hearts for worship! I believe worship team auditions are in a few weeks, so that should be fun.)
One of my neighbors is named Alyona (pronounced “Alana”) and she’s Ukranian. She is my hero! Seriously! She was a 1st-year intern last year, and then went back to her home church to start an internship program there. (Her parents are the senior pastors of a church there.) She took the lessons she learned and translated them. (Our book is MASSIVE, by the way.) Our internship program is 9 months long, and we cover 1 lesson a day for 3 days each week. Alyona’s program was over the summer and they covered 3 lessons a day for 5 days, so they covered all the material! (Do keep in mind that she’s a WOMAN in the UKRAINE) By the end of the summer, 170 young people graduated. 170!!!!!! It’s so amazing! And now, she’s back to do the 2nd-year program. And that’s not even her full testimony…. She shared with me how she even got to be a part of the GI program and how God did some serious work in her life and proved Himself to be faithful. It was hard, difficult, but it paid off - 170 people’s lives are now ruined forever! She plays the piano and we got to worship together for over an hour yesterday which was so fun! God is knitting our hearts together and she says I’m one of her heroes, too, although I don’t know why…. We both have the utmost respect and love for each other, even though I have no idea why she thinks of me in that way! I’ve done nothing compared to what she’s done, but we’re so grateful for each other and I’m excited to see our friendship grow in the months ahead.
This church is BUILT on prayer. It is the absolute foundation of the church and it is of the utmost importance. On Saturday nights the church gathers to worship and pray for over 2 hours. WOW! That was Day 2 of GI and a great way to start off a weekend of services across Seattle. Worship and prayer were SO made for each other and I LOVE that this church has a live worship band to sort of “kickoff” the time of prayer. It just prepares your heart and makes the prayer part so much easier…. Pastor Judah said it so well during the prayer service that as you adore, magnify, and focus on Jesus, you can’t help but talk to Him! It’s so true. I always thought of prayer meetings as being sterile, serious, and a “cold turkey” style of praying, but this has changed my mind. It’s so easy to worship and pray for 2 hours!
I’m quickly learning that preparation and expectation can make or break my experiences in corporate gatherings. When we don’t take the time to prepare and expect, our corporate experiences end up becoming a spiritual light switch that we turn on or off. There’s no deep connection, no practical application, and no lasting fruit. When we do take those few extra minutes in the car or whatever, it’s a more steady flow, if you will. God’s presence and anointing don’t start and stop - rather, they are constant and ever-present, waiting for us to simply acknowledge and respond. Playing worship music in my car before and after service prepares and maintains my heart - keeps me in a state of worship and brings my attention back to God. And as I stir myself up, or as my spirit man is released and allowed to be free, my expectation for the corporate gathering grows. I’m preparing my own heart and raising my own expectations for what God wants to do and say during the service - in my own life as well as the lives of others. I think that’s a massive part of being a mature Christian - we’re no longer dependant upon the worship leader to lead us into the presence of God, or to get us excited about God. No - we’re taking ownership and ENTERING the service with focused, grateful, worshipful hearts - ready to lavish our King with praises and adoration. We’ve taken the time to prepare our hearts before God - to leave our baggage, our stressful weeks, dysfunctional family situations, discouraging thoughts, etc. behind and enter His courts with thanksgiving. Can you imagine how much that would bless your worship leader??? As a worship leader myself, I’ve noticed that people can become dependant on whoever is leading the music a certain week and lose focus of what it is we’re after here, which is Jesus. At times, it felt like every week I was reminding the people WHO God is and WHY He’s worthy of our praise. BUT WAIT!!! I’m exhorting the mature Christians who should already know why our God is so great and greatly to be praised! When each individual, each family that comes to church takes the time to set their hearts on the loving Creator of all, which in turn builds their expectation, you’ll see and experience a huge change in the spiritual climate of the service. I dare you! TRY IT! I know it would bless your worship leader tremendously and would allow them to truly focus on listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit instead on dragging you into the presence of the Most Holy One.
Everybody’s been saying how awesome this year is going to be for us 1st-year interns and how, by the end of the year, we’re not even going to know who we were when we started. And that’s all cool and fun, but I totally felt God speaking to me during the prayer meeting. Tears began to fall from my eyes as I just opened my spirit and received the word that the Lord was speaking to me: I’m in for the ride, opportunity, and experience of my life - I’m going to be so changed and different - I’m meant to be here.
This was my first time ever attending a Sunday morning service, and it was FANTASTIC. We ended up sitting in the front row! It was so crazy sitting there listening to Pastor Judah preach and thinking, “Wow…. This is my church now; he’s my pastor now.” (I guess it’s the whole ownership thing and adjusting to the new things that are happening!) Worship was great and had a good mix of songs from everybody - one of their own original songs, one by Hillsong, one by Leeland, one by Chris Tomlin, and one other I think. A little while later Pastor Judah came up and preached from Ephesians 2:1-10, primarily focusing on the last verse and the phrase “prepared beforehand.” It was PERFECT and just the thing all of us 1st-years needed to hear. GO DOWNLOAD THE MESSAGE RIGHT NOW!!! I’m just so confident that this is where I’m meant to be and I can now rest in that and enjoy this journey that’s unfolding before me. This is destiny!
I’m meeting the greatest people here. One girl’s in her mid-twenties I think and she’s been heralded as one of the greatest worship leaders from Christ for the Nations in Texas with a voice like Janice Joplin! Her voice is beautiful and you can tell she’s anointed to lead worship. (So many girls here can sing and have hearts for worship! I believe worship team auditions are in a few weeks, so that should be fun.)
One of my neighbors is named Alyona (pronounced “Alana”) and she’s Ukranian. She is my hero! Seriously! She was a 1st-year intern last year, and then went back to her home church to start an internship program there. (Her parents are the senior pastors of a church there.) She took the lessons she learned and translated them. (Our book is MASSIVE, by the way.) Our internship program is 9 months long, and we cover 1 lesson a day for 3 days each week. Alyona’s program was over the summer and they covered 3 lessons a day for 5 days, so they covered all the material! (Do keep in mind that she’s a WOMAN in the UKRAINE) By the end of the summer, 170 young people graduated. 170!!!!!! It’s so amazing! And now, she’s back to do the 2nd-year program. And that’s not even her full testimony…. She shared with me how she even got to be a part of the GI program and how God did some serious work in her life and proved Himself to be faithful. It was hard, difficult, but it paid off - 170 people’s lives are now ruined forever! She plays the piano and we got to worship together for over an hour yesterday which was so fun! God is knitting our hearts together and she says I’m one of her heroes, too, although I don’t know why…. We both have the utmost respect and love for each other, even though I have no idea why she thinks of me in that way! I’ve done nothing compared to what she’s done, but we’re so grateful for each other and I’m excited to see our friendship grow in the months ahead.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Welcome!
This is my new blog titled "Chapter 2," because I'm about to embark on the next stage of my life! I'll be updating this regularly, hopefully, with all the info and updates that I feel led to write about. I hope this is interesting, encouraging, insightful, and funny! But we'll take it all in stride. :-)
Orientation for my intern program is this Friday! So maybe I'll write something sometime this weekend. :-)
Orientation for my intern program is this Friday! So maybe I'll write something sometime this weekend. :-)
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