We are One

I have experienced a great phenomenon in these last couple weeks.

It started out at our small group called Nexus when Brooke Bath heard from the Lord to pass around post-it notes so that everyone would write something little to encourage the person named on the post-it. She heard from the Lord and obeyed. Seems small right? Encouraging post-it notes? Not small. 2 different people wrote that I am an Inspire-R? (haha ;)) and that I inspire so many people. I'd never seen myself that way before, or at least was to "humble" to admit that. Humility is not low-self esteem guys. Paul says to think of ourselves with sober judgement meaning not too high and not too low. Beloved, know who you are!! For the sake of the Lord, know who you are.

The following days over the next couple weeks, including today I've had about 3 other people tell me that I have inspired them. I know that this is from Jesus!, and He is speaking to ME!, through other believers.

Just the fact that God speaks to me and tells me that I inspire His Bride is literally phenomenal. But what is really hitting me is the reality that we are one. We are one body. This is wider than just the Voice of encouragement... absolutely everything we do affects the EVERY spirit-filled believer around the whole world. That includes our sacrafices, our WORDS (please speak as though it were God speaking), our obedience, and our mistakes and disobediences. Know that you are not alone and everything you do is not nobody else's business. Because the eyes of the Lord search the entire earth. Because I need you and you need me. Fight the good fight, run the race.

Lord, open our eyes that we may see Your handiwork. Open our ears so we can hear your Voice. Let us live and die for the things unseen. Set us on fire! Lord I pray for your Bride to know who she is. I pray for global unity. I pray for strength to overcome fear in Jesus' Name. I pray you will rise with healing in Your wings and embrace your beloved. We are hungry, Jesus. Fill us with your Love and Life. Give us grace to know our spirit and walk naturally in the spirit. Amen.

Let us walk in the One spirit we we baptised into.

a womanly woman

I am a woman. Women don't flirt with their eyes, or do things to receive attention from men. She doesn't text a "possible" for sake of friendship and emotional satisfaction. She will not facebook a "hope" to gain comfort. She is strong and unavailable in the natural. She hides her heart in Christ and looks to Him for love and affection. She stays there in the secret place, gaining strength and wisdom from her Lover, the True satisfier of her soul, and spirit. She puts her full trust and hope in the Lord, who is the Author of her Life.

She is always concerned of her Father's business, feeding and taking care of His flock. She is kind, but guarded. Her heart is not on the line for anyone to read, except those entrusted to her care. She is weak and vulnerable. Naked. Before her Prince of Peace. For it is here that He is able to have His way.

He... is intimate. He is here. He is there, He is now, He is. Inside me, above me, below me, embracing me, carrying me, leading me, protecting me, guiding me, moving me, compelling me. He is. Alive, and my spirit bears witness.

Choose Wisdom. Seek peace and pursue it.

Well. I am super confused about this blogger and blogspot stuff. Any feedback on that would be so appreciated.

I went on my first bicycle ride of the year this morning/afternoon. I can't find my phone. I stayed the night at a friend's house last night and woke up this morning to beautiful blue skies, warm sunshine and a slightly strong breeze. Birds. :) Somewhere between her room and my car I lost my phone and still haven't found it. I decided to ride my (borrowed) bike over to her house and look again. Nothing. She lives in the same neighborhood as my grandparents (to whom I have been mostly absent and uncommitted to all of my life... they don't live much more than a mile away. Sad right?) Well, I mustard up some courage and rode on over there. :) Grandpa was more than welcoming and made fresh coffee and set some homemade cookies right in front of me. I noticed that he gave me a mug that I had mentioned some time ago that I liked. He also said he thought of me when he reads the Ranger Review. That's where I work. It's our local newspaper that I sell advertising for.

This may all seem pretty boring to anyone reading. But for me, it's a huge step in my Walk with Jesus. I have always been really amazed by God's faithfulness and pursuit of me. It blows me away that while I was still in sin, He loved me. And rescued me. Recently, my friend Ashley and I haven't been as close as we were when we first became friends which was a couple years ago when she first accepted Jesus as Lord. Recently, Ashley had put up walls to guard her heart, and I felt it, and in my spirit, I knew our relationship was not right. God kept saying, "Pursue Ashley. Submit to her, and love her." And I would try, but things were not right. So I asked God what was wrong.

God showed me that in every single one of my relationships, I have been unfaithful. Either girl friends or boyfriends. I have not pursued, and I have not been committed in my heart. And God, in His Grace and Love, doesn't let us stay how we are. He is like Spring, making me new all the time. I told Ashley what God said, and now I can change. I apologized for certain actions, and simply told her that I am committed to her and her Walk. Gosh.

I am committed, first, to Christ. Then to anyone and everyone (by His grace) He leads me to. This afternoon, for the first time in my entire life, I visited my grandparents. I stayed for 3 hours while sipping coffee, and looking through photos and talking about general life happenings. (The Author of) Time will bring them to the Lord. :)

God is pouring out His Spirit. I am so in awe of His work that I can barely keep in this joy at times. He is faithful, and in pursuit of everyone. Through His faithful servants, He chooses to do wonders, and I am so thankful and humbled.

Affed!

JAcKiE
Line, Color, emotion,
Spirit, YOU ARE NOT TIMID,
YOU ARE NOT AFRAID
YOU WILL
WASTE SOMEONE
M
Y
S
T
E
R
Y...
A FRIEND, SWEET,
A LISTENING EAR, A SMILE
HAPPY TO SEE ME, COLLECTED
WISE, KNOWLEDGABLE, UNDERSTANDING
LEAVE A MARK, RISK, BELIEVE, CONQUER
__________________________________

In a murmer
In a whisper you found Me
You became more of yourself than you were without me
__________________________________

To see, to create
To LOVE, to wonder
To know Him

You still have something left to unveil. You still have new waters to sail. When you rest at the end of the day, there is still more to you than someone could say.
Love searches out.
He bounds over the hills
Hoping that you will unlatch the gate
He rests on the edge of your Mystery
and peers deEPER__________-Joseph Swanson-

Come

Come The Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise!
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
such by flaming tongues above.
Praise the Mount; I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's redeeming Love.

Here I raise my Ebeneezer,
hither to They help I'm come.
And I hope by They good pleasure
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be.
Let they goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love...
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for They courts above!________________________________________________

November: I am artist of the month at the local Art Gallery!
God is so faithful even when we are not. He has shown me this so many times throughout my life. He has been faithful in pursuing me for almost 24 years now, and I know He will never stop pursuing my heart, and tuning it to sing His grace. I do pray I can be an instrument for which His Spirit to breathe into and through. Thank you, Lord for my sound, and the song of my life. There are unbeautiful, muddy parts, but together with the rest of the melodies of His family is a delightful Song of the Symphony His Hand is orchestrating.

Well, here is a link to all my pieces that are being shown this month!

http://www.dcaugallery.org/nov2010.html

I know that this wouldn't happen without the perfect work of the Author of my faith, and His Spirit interweaving all the good and bad together, into beauty; without the gifts He has so freely given me, and the encouraging words from my friends all of my life He also has so freely blessed me with. His plans for me are so good! I need not fear anything!

Fear Factor: I'm still working at the newspaper and I am still conquering even more fear! It's glorious. I hate fear, and I hate the prison Fear is holding The Bride captive in. I hope to be used by God to set the prisoners free! This children's song is so profound:

I've got a River of Life flowing out of me.
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see,
opens prison doors, sets the captives free
I've got a River of Life flowing out of me
-Spring up, O Well, within my soul (john 7:37)
-Spring up, O Well, and make me whole
-Spring up, O Well, and give to me -- that Life--abundantly.

I sang this song as a tiny child!! I'm blown away that these lyrics are in a children's song. I love it. I want childlike faith.

"Ahhh, I don't know what I really want to do!"
"Jack, I think you should really come home, and so does your mom."
((thinking, yeahh well everyone in Kona thinks I should be in Kona))
-Ashley and I, Friday afternoon

A conversation full of uncertainty and fear, laughter and tears, took me back home to a small town of rugged beauty and family I hold dear.

Back home Wednesday afternoon. Sick for a week. Better. Time for a haircut! Saltwater, sun and wind are damaging to the hair, AND I hadn't had a trim in over 3 months. Got my hair cut, and decided I should probably finally seek a job, I headed to the local coffee shop to ask for a job application. So I got it, ordered my drink, and was about to sit at a table, drink my double white-chocolate americano (thank you Daniel York) fill out my application, hand it in, and leave. Well I turn to my left and my friend Alisa Werner becomes the subject of veiw. "Woah, Alisa! How are you!??! What are you doing??" "Just meeting with the.. DC..H.CC.. how are you!?" "Good! Just applying for a job.." ...we talked for a few minutes about my plans being home, and how i love the atmosphere of coffee shops and it led to me sitting in on the meeing she was in.

DCHCC: Dawson County Healthy Community Coallition. A volunteer group of citizens with a longterm vision of actually changing the culture of this small town. Partying, and drinking and driving is a prevelent scene here, and I think Jesus has actually places this same desire in my heart a couple years ago. I love when people can get together and have a great time without alcohol. I met with this diverse group of people a couple times before I left for my missions trip, and here I am again. Funny how God works: Pam Ruth, a lady from the local Newspaper saw me filling out an application and inquired of my need for a job. "Well, we need an Ad Consultant for the Ranger Review!" She asked me to walk over with her after this meeting, so I did. I grabbed an application and went home. I came in the next day with the application, knowing this was from Jesus. I had an interview within 2 minutes and I got the job in 5. God has amazing plans for me...

Back to the meeting in the coffee shop with DCHCC. They were talking about an Open Mic Night at the newish Bistro in town. So many exciting things! This kind of stuff doesn't happen in Glendive. We were all buzzin about the fair, the open mic night, and someone asked me what I had been doing. So I briefly told them about my missions trip to Hawaii and Europe. Somehow it got out that I play the flute. They all wanted me to play my flute at open mic night, so I got a list of songs ready, got my flute all ready... and I said, "Jesus, You know I'm not actually going to do this." "Jackie.. you can do it. You'll bring life and light to the people there and you'll have fun. This is a gift from Me."

I went. I got asked several times to go up. I didn't. There is a battle for me being in front of people. I think Jesus wants me to. I think that the enemy has told me I would be horrible at it, and I just don't need to be in front of people. Things are changing. Jesus got me a job with the public. I carry His Presence. I love Him.

P.S. I have an interview with the newspaper tomorrow and they are doing an article on me and my missions trip for this weekend's paper. :) Jesus and I are best friends.

...just art :)

God is really calling me to get some art into this world. I feel really small when I think about all the other art out there, and Comparison wants me to believe I shouldn't even try. But God's Voice is the One i listen to now :) He really has given me a passion for creativity since I was really small. I have a pretty vivid snapshot in my mind of a piece of recycled, grey-ish worksheet sitting on my desk, asking me what I want to be when I grown up, and it was just such an obvious answer to me: Artist. That was in Kindergarten. Here I am still intrigued with what My Creator and I do on paper.

I just graduated Discipleship Training School, and one of the questions while debriefing was: Looking back, what is one area you have been encouraged in most of your life? ...art. I think it's just so obvious God wants to use my art. So, here is some.. I definitely have more stored at home that I want to get on here, but I'm kind of in a hurry because I need money for my next step: PhaseII of Fire and Fragrance, School of Revival and Reformation, which starts July 7th.


If you or anyone you know would like me to design anything for them, I would be honored: tattoo, something on paper, birthday card, calender, whatever.

alright, thanks for reading. :) Be blessed. God is good.

Heaven is inside of me....

Well, I'm back in Kona, Hawaii. Love seeing all my friends, especially Courtney Edge :) Monday Morning worship was amazing. I was actually thinking about skipping it, because I've never really understood corporate worship.. but I'm starting to figuring out my part in the Body of Christ, and corporate worship this morning was beautiful. The Lord met me in a deep place. Kandi was next to me and came to minister to me.. she also felt the depth. :) I've been asking God to take me deeper and of course He's faithful to a prayer like that. The way He met me this morning, I think He was confirming my decision for PhaseII of Fire and Fragrance. It's going to be an intense season, full of beauty and depth and height and width. He's bringing me to a more solid place. I'm learning to believe and to trust.

This morning we had our last day of team time I think. We went out for breakfast and coffee at Lava Java and just shared our dreams and life goals and visions for our lives, and then we prayed for eachother just letting God speak to and through us. I'm not totally sure what I will be doing for the rest of my life, but for now I'm really just seeking for my Triune God. I want to know everything I can about Him because His Love is so deep and He's so good. I want to see His beauty. One thing I do see myself doing is travelling to the Nations and encouraging the Bride. I don't know what it really looks like, but I know I'm starting to figure it out. I am really loving life, and loving who God made me to be... and I am really seeing how much He is giving me His heart for people. I'm so thankful and hopeful and expectant!

...and His glory is being stirred up inside of and all around me. And the knowledge of His glory will fill the earth like the water fills the seas.

...feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

First Blog. Last country on my first outreach. France! So many firsts this year.. I started by leaving my hometown for the first time ever in the first month of the year. I am on my first outreach which consists of getting to know God, myself, and my team. I love all 3 a lot, and I know my love will only grow. I am overcoming a lot of fear, which is being replaced with beautiful freedom. I am learning that God has a wonderful journey in store for me. Adventure is my most recent chapter, and Love my greatest goal.

I am learning how much I love children, and how the enemy for so long has made me believe I don't. I think most children have a mutual love for me. It's an intense process trying to "figure out children", but it's fun. I, like my Creator, am an artist, and a child's skin is quickly becoming my favorite canvas... we have been barbecuing in a vacant lot outside some low-income apartments here, and for the first few days I walked around interceding, and last night our team brought some acrylic paint. I started out by painting Gena's face, and chaos erupted soon after. The most popular "tattoo" was a flame that happened because Grace wanted me to paint something on her arm, and fire is most appropriate for her. Kids running around with fire painted on their forearms, and whiskers painted on their faces and hearts on their shoulders... they are running in His Presence, and I know we are working with God to start a spark in their hearts, and passion for His Name. I am falling in love with children.

Many nations are calling my name as I hold His in my heart. My feet are so antsy to run. My heart is alive. My mind is curious. Welcome to my Adventures ^^