tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68941986682548752862024-02-06T21:39:47.923-08:00Like A City On A Hill*Shine!*RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-70994101299342234762020-04-21T23:36:00.001-07:002021-02-10T23:35:06.193-08:00Slasher Shadow I saw glimpses of you<br />
In those still quiet moments<br />
So I filled them<br />
With Noise and chatter<br />
They all told me to<br />
Look on the bright side<br />
So I stared at the sun<br />
But you were always there<br />
Right behind me<br />
It seemed like the<br />
Good girl thing to do<br />
I stuffed you down<br />
And poured “truth”<br />
And affirmations<br />
On top of you<br />
I drowned out your cuss words<br />
With worship music<br />
The louder the better<br />
With bright lights and cameras too<br />
I tried to medicate you<br />
With faces hugs and<br />
“Vulnerability”<br />
But I could still feel you<br />
Squirming beneath the surface<br />
<br />
When it was all stripped away<br />
And unraveled<br />
I heard an earthquake rumbling<br />
But I just kept trying to connect<br />
With my higher power<br />
Holy frustration kicked in<br />
Ran through my blood<br />
Ok fine let’s look deeper<br />
I went in<br />
Then you emerged<br />
<br />
You came out hard fiery<br />
Slashing everything in sight<br />
I was surprised<br />
You beat and you kicked<br />
and you slashed<br />
And I loved it<br />
I could feel you finally<br />
I could finally hear your cries<br />
And I was honored<br />
To finally be the one<br />
To give you a voice<br />
<br />
I’m sorry I silenced you<br />
Please look me in the eye<br />
Your feelings matter<br />
They are real and valid<br />
Now here we are<br />
In these woods<br />
Face to face<br />
I’m ready to listen<br />
I’m ready to hear it all<br />
Your rage<br />
Your hatred<br />
Your disappointment<br />
Your frustration<br />
Your grief<br />
I really do care<br />
And I always have<br />
I just don’t always know<br />
What to do with you<br />
Because you’re very powerful<br />
I’m here to listen<br />
And I’ll always validate you<br />
And be willing to connect with you<br />
<br />
When you’re ready<br />
I have a friend<br />
Who I know could explain Himself<br />
And might be able to help you<br />
To See more clearly<br />
To Release the anger<br />
And show you<br />
How much<br />
He actually really does<br />
Give a shit<br />
<br />
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<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-7730887747261319912020-04-16T13:43:00.003-07:002020-04-16T14:06:12.711-07:00Encounters #6: Unwinding, Unraveling, ReconnectingIt's been a while since I've posted on this blog. Ok its been a few years. I'm pressing in to writing out my encounters again. I'm so hungry, so desperate for the Presence of God, for encounters for my hungry and thirsty heart. I just need Him. He is my reason and my everything. He is my breath and my shalom. He is what I really crave and need. I'm so lost and empty and anxious without continual connection. I know I am always connected to His Presence to His heart, but I need face to face heart to heart experience of His love to get through these days of quarantine. On February 16th, I moved into a studio apartment and I am living alone for the first time in my life. Before I ever heard the name of coronavirus (a name I hate to say or even type)... I was complaining to God about my new living situation. Why am I living alone in this tiny little box? He said Rebecca I'm calling you to a season of fasting for 3 months. You will be with me in my Presence. It will be a time for just the two of us and you will get out of it what you put into it. It was actually comforting to know it wouldn't be a forever place and that it was intentional by the heart of God to call me into a place of hiddenness with Him. I told my leaders and friends about it and that I wouldn't be as available to hang out. I just didn't know it also applied to the rest of the world. Well here I am and it has been about a month of this quarantine business. I have gone through so many emotions and phases but ultimately I have been unwinding and unraveling. I was so wound up from a busy pace of ministry school...that it took me an entire month to reach the place I'm in now. Finally able to connect but only through radical intention.<br />
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Today I pressed in. Just laid on my little teal loveseat with my fluffy faux fur white pillow and put on Yaweh by the Riveras on repeat. Its still playing as I type actually. And I just ascended the way I always do. I saw myself fly up to the heavens and enter through the door. I moved through the atmosphere of heaven as if I were swimming which was unusual but I just always roll with what is happening and don't ask a ton of questions until after or if I feel the need to... I went straight to the Father in the throne room. I just wanted Him. Here I am I said somewhat ashamedly because I've been avoiding these places. The Father stood up and I just fell into His arms sobbing. I was releasing the tension and fear and pain I've been in due to the virus and the quarantine. I've been so on edge and worried about my mom and my grandma. I've been overly vigilant and hyper alert not sure what is happening in this crazy moment and season. Crying into His great big loving arms and into His kind Presence felt so good. I could go back even now. He just held me and spoke to me. Its okay He said. Its okay for you to be where you are. He often has more grace for me than I do for myself....but I just keep learning. A bench appeared and we sat down and I just started talking telling Him how Ive been feeling. A small pool of water opened up in the floor and I knew it was a portal. I wanted to go in but I asked Him to come with me. Stay with me Father. He held me and we went together. At first it appeared to be the stars and the cosmos but then it changed to a place I had been before in encounters a beautiful sunrise sky...or maybe its a sunset I'm not sure. But its so peaceful and beautiful and fluffy white clouds are all around. We were riding on the giant white dove of the Holy Spirit. Soaring peacefully through the sky. Sitting together on the back of Holy Spirit. Daddy God brought out tea and "crumpets". I laughed remembering my time in England when we had tea parties and pastries. They were strawberry and so sweet with fancy tea cups. We just sat there drinking tea. I smiled at how sweet He was. I enjoyed the pastries and tea. Ironically I was drinking tea in the natural realm at this time (well the cup was waiting for me) but I've been fasting sugar and wheat and sweets in general. He is funny. We talked a little more and then He said now I have the good stuff. He pulled out the chocolate dessert...a yummy rich cake that reminded me of tiramisu but more chocolatey. I laughed and giggled. He is so full of delight. We enjoyed together. Suddenly my heart left and I started to weep. I left the cakes and fell into His arms. Im so hungry for You I said...so desperate for Your Presence. I'm glad you're here He whispered. <br />
<br />
A text message distracted me. I will throw my phone into the ocean. haha. (My silence button broke so if my phone is on it can't be silenced.)<br />
<br />
It's a constant battle for me right now. I'm finally fasting social media. Trying to keep my eyes on the One I love. But my attention seems to be split. I know it is because of my "Guardians" a term we use in inner healing to refer to the parts of our soul that protect ourselves. Its understandable. A killer virus is on the loose that has stopped the entire world. I'm praying for God to continue to draw me in and that I will say yes to His invitations. They are so worth it and so beautiful. I'm sure I could have kept going in that encounter. I will go back later. I am supposed to be on a call for ministry rooms online with Bethel but I just want to stay in prayer and worship.<br />
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<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-87924112085538389232015-10-19T14:32:00.000-07:002015-10-19T14:32:20.621-07:00Encounters #5: Slaying the Dragon<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes I don’t understand all the visions and the
emotions that I am encountering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have been having a few days of spiritual warfare, but I believe I am just going
to another level of glory and freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes that can feel like there is resistance in the spirit but it's
actually just the resistance of a spiritual muscle getting stronger so to
speak!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Tonight I had a vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in a place with a small lake that was surrounded by
tall trees on all sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a huge giant dragon in the vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a sword in my hand and as the dragon roared fire, I
could also feel my spirit man roaring back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had this fight inside of me like this dragon could not defeat me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, the dragon was like 100x bigger
than me, and I thought to myself how am I going to kill him with this tiny
sword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought about David and
Goliath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I started to sing
“This is my father’s world. “<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Proclaiming and declaring Him as the sovereign King, as the creator of
all things, including that dragon, as the One who gets the last word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God began to rain down fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fire burned everything in the whole scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The trees and the ground were burned dry. </span>The dragon was burned and was drowned
and destroyed in the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything was black and burned and so quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like the aftermath of a storm, but it was so peaceful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember thinking it
was a wasteland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want
anything to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted
to stay in that place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt
relieved, peaceful, safe, close to God, and I was enjoying the stillness of
everything around being just blackened by fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It stayed that way for a long time but then a faint light
started to show like the light of the dawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The light became brighter and things started to slowly come
to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then faster and faster
until there was new life everywhere and things were growing and forming and
blooming and animals were moving and making sounds and there was LIFE
everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Jesus came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He flew over the lake where the dragon
had been and He started spinning so fast with bright light shining out all
around. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is so powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stayed there for a while just
spinning supernaturally fast and then He shot up to the sky and exploded like a
huge white supernova.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stayed
there in the sky but His light from the explosion started to rain down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was raining everywhere all through
that place like raining bars of light everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started to roar over that whole place, “I will have my
full reward”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept roaring there
and the light kept raining down everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know what else He wanted to do and I slowly came
out of the vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At some point in the vision,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the natural I was singing from my spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was singing what I was seeing but
without words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just playing my
keyboard and singing…and I remember thinking if I ever sang and played like this
in a worship leading fashion people would not catch it or people would not
receive it but the Lord said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is who you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have given you
something, a new sound, to release.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe the Lord wants to release a new kind of worship, a creative
worship, where we are encountering Him in the Spirit realm and where we are
just expressing whatever is happening in the spirit realm from our spirits
using words or no words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where the Spirit of the Lord is… there
is freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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After the vision, I wept with relief and it was just a very
intense vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I wrote this several days ago and wanted to process it more before I shared it on my blog. After this vision, a heaviness and burden I had been carrying was immediately gone and never came back. I am in a battle right now over my destiny and identity. I am pressing in and contending for the fullness of my creativity and calling. The Lord is fighting for me and this is why He keeps roaring in my visions. He is roaring over my destiny. He is contending for me. He is so good and so faithful. I am going into a new and higher level of freedom, revelation, intimacy, relationship, walking in my identity and destiny and it is AWESOME! I am in a place I have never been in my </span>entire life and it is feeling good. I can still feel the warfare on some days and the tension of the pull from one place to the next and I can't wait FOR THE FULLNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-25865694591950848322015-10-10T20:57:00.000-07:002015-10-10T21:01:54.922-07:00Encounter #4: Breaking Shame.This evening I was feeling really gross. I had a conflict with a close friend last night and that usually really knocks me off balance when that happens. I have felt unsettled and unresolved since we haven't resolved things yet. Consequently I stress ate and watched a lot of Netflix today and was generally feeling really not so great about myself. I know the conflict was partially my issues and I was feeling some shame about the whole situation. This is honestly just part of life and so I wanted to write this blog post just to show in a very small part how the Lord can minister to us in these moments and bring us back to a higher joy level. <br />
<br />
I finally had enough and decided to worship.<br />
<br />
I sat down at my keyboard and started to worship. I went to my garden close to the river that flows down from the throne. There was a really tall female angel there. I was laying down on my face in the grass feeling the residue of shame and the angel was there waving her huge wings very slowly over me. Her eyes and face were full of light and full of acceptance and joy. She was smiling softly and I could feel that there was no condemnation over me. She ministered to me and I was finally able to standup. As I was standing it began raining and the rain was washing over my face, washing and cleansing and me. It just kept washing and washing over me. I felt better and decided to go up to the throne room. As I flew up to the throne room, I could feel kind of a strength and joy begin to return. I started to worship and danced before my Father on His throne. As I danced I could feel strength rising up and my spirit beginning to lift and be set free from what I had been carrying. <br />
<br />
Since the issue I am having in the natural is still not resolved, my spirit is not completely at peace...but I am thankful for this time of ministry in the presence of the Lord and His ministering angel. My spirit is definitely lighter than it was before. <br />
<br />
Heaven is our home. <br />
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<br />
Hebrews 1:14, Isaiah 45:8, Hebrews 4:15-16<br />
<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-71848396384966622302015-10-05T18:46:00.000-07:002015-10-10T21:03:06.037-07:00Encounters #3: The healing fountain of light.Tonight the Lord has been speaking to me some about how we are spiritual beings. We are spiritual beings having an earthly human experience, but before we were on this Earth we were spiritual beings. We have come down to make known the glory, the truth, the love of God in the world... To shine His light, to learn, to love and to be loved.<br />
<br />
Tonight I went to the sea of glass before the throne of my Father and I laid down in brokenness. I wanted to release all my frustration, my pain, my anxiety, my angst. I have been feeling frustrated about not being more manifested in certain areas of my life like creativity, relationships, romance, etc. I just laid there feeling and releasing...letting it all go. <br />
<br />
I felt led into a different place and as I went I came to a golden castle. The castle was golden but made of light. I crossed a golden pond and went inside the castle. As I stepped inside, I was wearing a golden cloak, a tiara, and holding a torch, and a scepter. I walked past a dining table where some heavenly creatures haha were sitting and eating. Everything was golden and made of light. They were surprised to see me there and murmured wondering how I had gotten there. I commented saying that this was my home and I was a citizen of heaven. They kind of marveled. I walked past them into a kitchen area and in the kitchen was a big golden fountain of water and light. It was beautiful. I took off my cloak and set down the things I was holding and began to drink cupping the water with my hands. I washed my face and enjoyed this heavenly water and fountain. I removed everything and stepped into the fountain. The light, the water, the vibrations flowed through me into my core and all the negative emotions were released from my body until there was only peace. I stayed there for a long time. At least half an hour. Just letting the water, the vibrations go into my stomach. In the natural I have digestive issues and I could feel that this water was bringing healing to me. I saw a golden ball of light go into my stomach. I stayed there just basking and bathing in this fountain for a very long time. <br />
<br />
Another part of me who is a warrior came into the house. He laid down his armor and He also got into the fountain. He began to weep there as He felt such a sweet release and peace in this glorious presence of healing and love. I was not in touch with the emotion but I was only seeing him experience this and understood what he was feeling. He stayed in the fountain. <br />
<br />
I started to leave the house but I decided to stay. I was in a robe and slippers as if I was at a spa and I sat down at the table in front of the fountain and decided to stay there resting and drinking a tall glass of water from the fountain. <br />
<br />
Now, all of this may sound strange but it was a spiritual encounter that was simply activated by my imagination. My spirit and soul was receiving something from this heavenly place. I believe I was receiving some degree of healing in both my soul and my body from Jesus who was this fountain of Living Water. Thank You Holy Spirit for leading me to this golden castle of light and healing. I bless You and thank You. I believe You are doing a great work in my life and You are healing me, setting me free, and walking with me towards the manifestation of my destiny in You as You created me to be! I worship You and thank You. <br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:9</span>RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-61359891834211855502015-10-01T21:34:00.000-07:002015-10-10T21:08:22.719-07:00Encounters #2: One with Christ.Tonight I met with Jesus in my garden. Its a spiritual place. A garden which is the garden of my heart which is also in heaven. The garden is very very big with many things in it like a waterfall and a river and above the waterfall the throne room. There is a small part of the garden that is circular and there are round stone benches all around it where I sometimes sit and talk with Jesus. Tonight I sat and talked with Him. I was telling Him about my loneliness and my longing for deeper connections, for deeper friendships and relationships, and for a spouse. To be intimately known and loved. As I spoke about this, He did remind me of His deep love for me. He reminded me that I am one with Him. Since I am one with Him, I actually stepped inside of His body. I could feel love pour from His heart into my chest and into my belly, the core of my soul. His love for me was like fire. I began to dance. I began to dance the way that I always dance except for that my spirit was still inside of His body. I danced there for a few minutes and enjoyed the way it felt to be "hidden in Christ". Then Jesus began to ascend up higher. He began to create things with His hands and I was still inside of Him. He began to fly and it was like flying like Superman... So high so free so full of joy and exhilaration. We were in the heavenly bodies of the universe... Where the planets are stars are. Jesus swept His hand and planets formed. He swept His hand across the darkness and stars and planets were strung up like Christmas lights. His love for me began to roar, to vibrate, to over power the entire universe. I could feel it and every part of the universe could feel it. Every being in the universe was aware of His love, His passion, His tenacity for me and for every one of His sons and daughters. <br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 1 Cor 16:17</span><span class="p" style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-67866501665459795492015-09-30T20:24:00.000-07:002015-10-10T21:15:27.174-07:00Encounters #1: Dancing on the water<div class="MsoNormal">
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It was our usual place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not far from the horizon line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barefoot in the middle of the ocean on top of the water as
the sun painted tropical dusk through the sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t just walk on the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We danced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
always dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Face to face, heart
to heart, eye to eye, cheek to cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He whispers to me of His goodness... His kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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As I looked into His eyes tonight, I marveled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows me inside and out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows me better than I know myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t always speak with words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He usually just reads my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laughed a little and said, “I made you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I know you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you for making me”, I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my cheek next to His, I could feel
his hair, his beard as He whispered into my ear…“I was so happy to make you” He
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words went deep down in
my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When He fashioned me He
put purpose, creativity, song, destiny, desire, fire, so many good things
inside of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dreamed a joyful
dream when He dreamed of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
He formed me and fashioned me in the secret place before the foundations of the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Tonight His eyes were so vivid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
steady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe clearer than they
have ever been before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My capacity
for Him is growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see His
eyes more clearly now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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We danced there on the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven was so open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The drums pounded and I could feel the tribal dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I danced and beat the water and splashed
and threw buckets of water at Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We played and laughed there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He invited me to go down deeper under the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m usually scared to go under the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have before but I’m
usually cringing when I do and I don’t like to stay very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many creepy things down
there….haha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a while we would
go down and come up, just a little close to the surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we went deep down to the
bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He picked up a gold coin
and brought it up for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
something happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went under the
water with Him and this heavenly light came and I was so at peace under the
water for the first time ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
swam and spun around and felt so free under the water with the beautiful light
all around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was right next
to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could breathe under the
water too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just enjoyed
the freedom, the peace, under the water with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly I started moving faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With intention but not aware of where I was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was moving faster than I could swim
but without effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
basically flying through the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t know where I was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus stayed behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wondered to myself where I was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then there He was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Father
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On His throne under the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an intimate
moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just Him and me
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke to me by
name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rebecca, you are very
special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I created you, I put
greatness inside of you.” As He said greatness, He roared it and it echoed
through the entire ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
continued roaring and said, “I will get my full reward.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As He roared over me, I began to
sob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was fierce and He was
angry at what had tried to hold me back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I knew as He was roaring He was speaking not only to my heart but also
to every power, principality, and spiritual force in the heavenly realms and in
the realm of that water where we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was roaring over my fear, over my insecurity, over my destiny, over
the fullness of my identity being restored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a jealous God, a fierce protector and defender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good good Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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When I came up out of the water, I had super strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hair was wet and I was dressed in
like white tribal dance clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I danced wildly and flew and I could kick and jump so high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My spirit had been strengthened by the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Those SYTYCD people ....got nothing on my spirit dancer. haha.</span></div>
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At some point, I went up, I flew up in to the heavens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joined with a flying flock of angels.
They were flying very fast and in perfect sync with one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow I had tagged on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were flying, I tried to focus on
their faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were so happy
and full of joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
laughing with each other at how wild the flight was and how much fun it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were flying because the Father was
so so good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were rejoicing because of His
goodness!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I saw the Father dancing in
the throne room. He was dancing as
I worshipped. As I sang, “You made
a way” He was passionately dancing.
He is passionate to see His bride enter in, to step into the heavenly
places. He bought access for us by
the blood of Jesus. He bought it
with His blood, His life, His Crucifixion. May He get His full reward and may we take hold of and use
the free ticket He bought for us on the cross. May we enter in and commune with our Beloved. </span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus Ephesians 1:20</span></span>RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-6826782696368372002015-07-18T20:44:00.000-07:002015-07-18T20:44:43.714-07:00PAINWe've all been there. Those excruciating moments in life. Those times when your thoughts and heart seem to be constantly racing. It seems like you can't get the scenes and conversations out of your head. You can't sleep or eat normally. Those moments when you're not sure if you really can or want to ...go on. Loss. Disappointment. Shock. Abandonment. Rejection. Grief. Those seasons where you just have to put one foot in front of the other and keep walking. Keep breathing. Keep living. Feel what you feel and just keep going. Keep pushing through. Keep reminding yourself that this too shall pass. <br />
<br />
Sometimes its due to poor decisions but sometimes its just LIFE! We take risks and sometimes we lose. We have faith in something we think is secure and suddenly it gets ripped out from under us. Whatever the case, its leads to the ultimate place of <b>PAIN</b>. <br />
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Pain is not a pretty place to be in. Its hard. Its...well painful. The stages of grief are universal and the hardest part of the experience of humanity. <br />
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Its the choices we make though that matter. In those dark pits of despair and pain, how do we cope and what or who do we choose to help us?<br />
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I'll never forget going taking an African mother to the hospital to collect the body of her 6 year old daughter who had just passed away. We went to pray over the girl in hopes of resurrection but no change came of our prayers. The mother walked out of the hospital towards the car with her hands raised high and tears pouring down her face singing a song to God that said "if you had not been with me, I never would have made it". Watching her strength in that moment was one of the most incredible things I have ever witnessed in my life and I'll never forget it. <br />
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Ultimately you can't do it alone! We all need God's help but still its up to you to face it and get THROUGH it.<br />
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My Dad says FEAR can be one of 2 things. Face everything and RUN or Face everything and RECOVER! The better choice is to face everything in life and if you get hurt along the way, you then have to choose to take the path of recovery. Its much better than running, because if you run, you still have your fear and all your problems. In other words its better to have loved (or truly lived) and lost than to never have loved (or lived) ...at all. Then you just recover from the loss. Simple haha. Life and love are full of risks and chances...but they are completely worth taking.<br />
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I personally do not know how anyone survives those painful moments in life without God though. He is the only strength I have had to make it through those times. He is truly the One I have had to lean on and you know what's great is that during my seasons of loss and grief, my relationship and level of intimacy with Him always always increases. It has to. I am forced to lean into His heartbeat and tell Him everything and hear His words back to me. His words literally become my daily bread that sustains me to take another step. Another step across the bridge towards recovery and towards the place of returned joy, peace, hope, and light. <br />
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I have recently been facing a painful place in my life but God is helping me walk through it in a graceful dance. Although the dance is sometimes pretty scary, messy, and even ugly. Still Im dancing with the Lover of my Soul through the fire and that's pretty spectacular. <br />
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In a way the place I have been in has felt like exercising and growing a spiritual muscle. Gathering a resilience that is enabling me to say I know I can face anything life throws at me and recover from it because of my God. Due to my early childhood experience of abandonment, I have always struggled with a fear of abandonment and rejection from friends and relationships and everyone really (except maybe my mom). Im learning though that I don't actually have to be afraid of this! Because even if this fear comes true, I can face it and survive it and overcome it with God's help and grace. I can ...face it and recover. Not being afraid of it and knowing this truth allows me to open my heart and take chances knowing that no matter what ....I will survive it and I will recover. That's really powerful. <br />
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The place of building a spiritual muscle though can be tough but like an athlete we keep pressing through with our eyes on the prize. I feel kind of like a gladiator lately who is walking through the fire and not running back and not flinching but pressing and pushing through knowing on the other side he is coming out gold. In these moments, God often exposes our hearts as well. We get purified and refined with the fire... which is a really good thing. <br />
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I encourage you if you are in the place called <b>PAIN</b>....to reach up to heaven and to face it and recover. Find an OUTLET and do whatever it takes. Don't stuff it down because it will come out one way or another!! If you're compelled to do something as long as it doesn't hurt you or anyone else, then do it. Scream it out, cry, imagine whoever hurt you (including God) and tell them everything you feel, pummel the pillow, go for a long run, throw things out, go for a long drive, go out into the forest or alone in your car and scream at the top of your lungs, draw our the memories, journal, punch a punching bag, go to counseling every day or every week or whatever you need and DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to recover. YOU WILL RECOVER!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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But whatever you do in these tender sacred exposed moments of life, don't turn to anything that will cause you or others harm and pain. It can destroy your life and the lives of those you love. Get some help before you do that! <br />
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Our God is so good. He is with us through every up and every down. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is a faithful friend who sticks closer than a brother. He is Our Maker, Savior, Lover, and Perfect Father. Our present help in time of need. Our Refuge. Our Healer. Our hiding place. Our secret place. Our strong tower. Our Defender. Our King. Our Lord. Our Shalom. Our Joy. Our Peace. Our Love. Our Hope. <br />
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He will see you through to cross the bridge of this season. You will make it. You will come out stronger. You will come out gold...and you will live again and keep living. <br />
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Grace and peace to you on your journey towards healing and wholeheartedness. <br />
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<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-54227217883755079522015-02-25T08:30:00.002-08:002015-02-25T08:30:46.718-08:00LOVE YOURSELF<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately I have had a lot more time than my usual pace of life (living in a house with 20 kids and managing 25 staff members etc) gives me to reflect and ask myself challenging questions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have of course as a single 31 year old woman been asking myself and God (broken record) questions about my love life! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing the Lord has been teaching me about is loving myself. I believe you can't really love anyone well unless you love yourself well. In fact, Im certain the world would be a LOT better off if everyone loved themselves well, took better care of themselves, and made made more loving decisions. This is not to be confused with being selfish or greedy both of which are unloving to yourself and to others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing my small group leader and now a pastor used to say is "self care is not selfish", and I wholeheartedly believe this to be true. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As someone who loves the sacrificial aspect of love, this can be a fine line for me to walk....and quite frankly I do think the Lord kind of emphasizes different aspects of love in different seasons. In other words, I love to give myself away! I love this aspect of love. I love serving and I love feeling God's compassion running through my blood and moving me to act. Some seasons have been all about that aspect for me but this new season I am in is not. haha. It is all about taking care of myself. Truthfully, you CANNOT take care of anyone else if you don't or can't take care of yourself. The same as a man cannot take care of a wife and children if he can't even provide and take care of himself ladies ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay so...this has led me to ask what does it look like? What does it look like to love yourself well? What is the difference in that and being selfish? The last thing I ever want to be is selfish or self-centered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With this in mind, I think we can simply turn to scripture. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself". I know we can't love our neighbor well if we don't first love ourselves well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE LOVE CHAPTER!!!!!!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Corinthians 13 says:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-13-4" id="en-NLT-28630" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-13-5" id="en-NLT-28631" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-13-6" id="en-NLT-28632" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-13-7" id="en-NLT-28633" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.</span></span><br />
<span class="text 1Cor-13-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text 1Cor-13-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what loves looks like. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patient:</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need to be patient with ourselves. We are learning and growing and doing what we can do with what we have. Sometimes we will mess up and make mistakes. Sometimes we will not have enough energy or health to do the tasks of the day. Sometimes in some areas of our lives we will be like little babies learning to walk. We will stumble and fall and get back up again. We should be proud of ourselves for trying and be patient with our progress and growth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kind:</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need to be kind to ourselves. How many of us have a constant critical berating voice in our heads? You may think you don't but spend a few days consciously listening to that voice and you might be surprised. We often are too hard and too harsh on ourselves. Bottom line: this is sin. God wants us to be free and not in bondage to our own judgment. We need to repent of a critical spirit and let the Lord set us free. We should learn to be kind to ourselves. As that voice pops up, just say I forgive myself for thinking that and I speak the truth over myself that I am dearly loved accepted and I am doing a good job growing in this area. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay that's all for this post: I will continue this topic next time. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love Yourself Today, </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rebecca</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-10739006857444395712015-02-12T07:42:00.000-08:002015-02-12T07:42:26.109-08:00Blooming in Winter.My life feels like winter right now. A restful slow darker season for me. A season of stripping away. A season of dying to old habits and tempos. A time to unwind, unfold, relax. God gave me the word "blooming" for this month. The thing about flowers blooming is that it happens naturally, effortlessly, easily, peacefully, joyfully.<br />
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Naturally. Effortlessly. Easily. Peacefully. Joyfully.<br />
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I'm there actually. I'm healing. Being restored. With peace. With joy.<br />
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I can't go back to striving, fighting, dying. No, it's time to bloom and grow and create and paint and sing without fear, without strain, with grace.<br />
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God gives us grace for the place and the season we are in.<br />
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Blooming in Winter. <br />
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<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-62983290661128562292015-01-22T00:03:00.000-08:002015-01-22T00:05:19.115-08:00Can't see the Forest for the trees...Sometimes we are so close to something and it is always in our face and we are running around trying to manage all the details, that we can't see the forest for the trees. We miss the point. We miss the why. We miss the big picture. When I lose the big picture, I lose heart. When I lose heart, its game over. <br />
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For the last 7 years, I have devoted myself heart, soul, body and mind to a mission that I believe God called me to fulfill. To see a nation transformed. To see a generation connected to the heart of the Father. To live a life of laid down love. To be a mother. With the spirit of God as my fire, my own literal blood, sweat, and tears were sown into the soil of a country. At times I felt like a kamikaze. Laying my life on the line. Facing horrific hellish situations but persevering under fire. Going into hiding, buying coffins for children under the age of 5 years old, betrayal and deception after betrayal and deception, being slandered and accused of unimaginable things, threatened to be imprisoned, threatened to be deported without return, threatened to be shut down, seeing loved ones and innocent ones victimized and suffering, being stolen from, oh God the list goes on. Still I kept fighting. I kept believing....for the joy set before me. I knew there was a higher glory, a glory that triumphed over every weapon the enemy could try to throw at me or our ministry. I would not give up or raise a white flag because I knew the scripture. He has overcome the world. Sometimes that world felt God forsaken, full of every kind of evil, but feelings aren't always true. God was and is and ever will be always present. Always near. Our ever present help in time of need. He trained my hands for battle. He trained my fingers for war. He broke rebellion until I was just a small lump of clay ready to bend ready to change shape at any moment, ready to jump at his whisper. Now I'm a daughter who knows I'm a soldier. But every good soldier yields when her commander says break. When her commander says rest, peace, healing, time for recovery. Time to pull away from the battle field. Time to remember what the battle is all about. Time to remember the why and see the forest again. <br />
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I'll never forget that little boy. It was another day in the slums, my favorite place. A place of desperation and destitute poverty, where people are hungry in every way. I was just being a kid with the kids like I always do. They are my favorite because they remind me. They remind me of the simplicity of being a child. Of getting out of my head and into my heart, into the place of flow. So I just chased him and tickled him until his tiny little dirty body in his little ragged clothes blissfully fell into the dirt. I tickled him and tickled him and we would laugh and laugh. Then he would raise his arms up over his head again. Never letting me stop. So I would tickle him again and again and again and there we were. In the slums experiencing heaven. Laughing until our tears stained the red dirt. This must have gone on for at least 45 minutes. I remember thinking as we laughed together and looked into each other's eyes...of the healing we were both getting. Laughter is good like medicine. Maybe this boy had never been tickled before. Probably he doesn't get enough affection and hugs. In typical Ugandan fashion, parents are so serious and strict with kids instead of just letting them be...kids. I was loving this moment. Just a sweet moment with Jesus full of joy, peace, hope, affection, healing, eye contact. What a sweet little boy. He really touched my heart. A perfect little miracle moment. <br />
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He's the one down directly to my right in this picture. <br />
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<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-57147172237380521272013-05-27T15:53:00.004-07:002013-05-27T15:58:15.314-07:00RIVER IN THE HEART!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.” Mother Teresa</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Love Hunger. It is a very real thing. A deep nawing down in the pit of our stomach to be known, to have intimate relationship, to nurture, to give and receive love. Some of these desires are of the soul, usually physical and psychological, and some are of the Spirit. </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Hebrews 4:12 says </b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>God wants our spirit to lead us, not our flesh, not our soul (mind will and emotions). He wants to separate our soul and spirit so that our spirit can be in charge. When our spirit is in charge, the Spirit of God is able to lead us into fulfillment of all our needs. This is done through both the written and spoken word of God! </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Galatians 6:8 says </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">F</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>or the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life</b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>So what does that mean? Well it comes down to love hunger really. It is a little bit like physical hunger and physical health. If you eat a lot of junk food you will become overweight and unhealthy. You won’t feel good or look good. You will be less productive than if you ate good food and you may even develop diseases. You will have low self esteem and not feel good about yourself. However if you eat healthy exercise drink water and sleep enough you are going to look and feel great! Not only that but you will be happier healthier and much more productive. Sowing to the flesh and to the Spirit is a lot like that. Both of these may be intended ways to meet love hunger, but only one way truly satisfies and leaves you in health and strength. It is a constant and continual choice to sow to the Spirit. Oh I’ve sown to the flesh before and I know how it feels. It feels gross. I’ve tried to meet my love hunger in all kinds of ways as most of us have and it leaves us unsatisfied and usually even more empty. I won't list all the crazy things humankind do in an attempt to have our needs met apart from the living God. The truth is there is only ONE THING that satisfies. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b> So then the question is...how do you satisfy your love hunger? Are you willing to become a disciplined eater? Yes I said it...the word discipline. Most of us scoff at this word and label with a big red sign that says “religion”. The truth is discipline to me is more like maintaining your deep connection to Christ. Its about eating well. Its about being satisfied in Him so that you don’t start running to microwave dinners, fast food, and even the garbage. That’s part of why we read His word everyday. We journal. We pray and fast. We worship. We serve. We do whatever we have to do to eat our daily bread and stay connected to the vine, to the source of Life. It comes with maturity too. Babies have to be fed and children have to be told when to eat, but mature people know how to cook for themselves and know when it is time to eat. There are times in my day when I can feel hunger rise up in me. Yes physical hunger but also spiritual hunger. I have to stop and journal or listen to some worship music. It just feels like a longing inside...a longing for connection. I have to run to the bread of Heaven, the living water. I have to eat and drink. If I don’t eat and drink, well it’s not pretty. I’ll run to fast food or whatever is easy and end up feeling empty, but I’m learning and growing in maintaining a lifestyle of eating and drinking. </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Most of us are pretty blind and poor but we just don't see it. The truth is we are all hungry and in need of daily bread. Many of us live in famine and wonder why we don't see more fruit in our lives. We are all broken and in need of living waters of life. So are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Run to the bread of life. Drink of the living water. Eat and be satisfied. Drink and thirst no more. Do it with discipline. Do it with passion. Do it with intention.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>If you keep doing this, you will see a shift in your life. Your Spirit man will get healthier. Your spirit man will get lighter. You spirit man will feel so good. Fruitfulness will flow through your life. You will be like a well watered garden a spring whose waters never fail. </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>If you’re not doing it, just try it and see.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>If you’re reading this and thinking you need to become a more disciplined eater, then I challenge you to give God time during the next 30 days.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>For 30 days, go on a spiritual diet. As yourself what sources of junk food do you run to when you are love hungry? Then for 30 days follow this diet:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Stay away from junk food. </b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Ask the Holy Spirit for a 30 day Bible reading plan. Maybe its a chapter in proverbs everyday or to study a book or two of the Bible. He will show you and do your best to stick to it.</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Journal everyday. It doesn’t have to be long. Just share your heart with God and let Him speak back to you anything He has to say.</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Worship everyday. You may be able to play an instrument and sing. You may want to worship Him on your instrument for an hour one day or you may just want to listen to one worship song. Either way, just engage His Presence daily.</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Ask the Lord for any other ways He may want you to connect with Him to eat and drink over the next 30 days and do them. It could be in fasting or prayer. It could be some sort of service. It could be praying in the Spirit or waking up in the middle of the night for an hour of prayer. Whatever He shows you do that!</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Give yourself grace. If you miss a day or miss a step give yourself grace but remember you're on a diet! Be disciplined! ;)</b></span></span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of my favorite teachers, Heidi Baker said, "All fruitfulness flows from intimacy. You plus God plus time equals intimacy. There are no shortcuts." </span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>EAT DRINK and BE MERRY!!!!!!! :)</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>With Love </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Rebecca</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>MY FAVORITE SONG RIGHT NOW:::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yeah Lord We Press in! God We Press in for MORE OF YOU! For More of Your Presence! We will only be satisfied with ALL of You! We will eat and drink of Your Presence daily for in Your Presence is the fullness of joy and the fullness of life! Open our eyes God to our places of lack to our places of desperation! God we are desperate for you! We can't live without Your Presence! We are hungry! We are thirsty! We Cry Out for MORE OF YOU God for MORE OF YOUR PRESENCE! We will pursue You We will pursue your Presence!!!!!! We give our lives away for Your Presence for this ONE THING! God let our pursuit of You be passionate and full and disciplined like runners racing for the prize. We fix our eyes on You! Give us doves eyes God. Haha. Set us on fire!!!!!!!!!!! </b></span></span></div>
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RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-34694090810570594002013-05-21T16:12:00.001-07:002015-10-24T08:24:08.350-07:00Don't Let Your Dreams Be Dreams!<br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>“Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">love the Lord and I love life! I love the journey with its ups and downs and all arounds. It’s full and I’m thankful that I am alive! What about you? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Life is a quest really. A journey towards manifestation. The manifestation of your DNA. Not your physical DNA but your spiritual DNA. Each of us has things that have been knitted and woven inside of us. Things that make our hearts beat faster. Things that...make us...well come alive. What makes you come alive? We are all on a journey towards this...finding the things that bring us joy and attempting to do them within all the practical limitations of life. Its really a beautiful process. :)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some of us have completely abandoned the process stuck in our 9 to 5 jobs that bring us little fulfillment or joy and little life on the inside meaningless menial work that does nothing good for our hearts. We get stuck here leading to gradual depression and disconnection from our hearts. When we neglect our purpose, it can begin to affect every area of our lives. Probably most of us are on our way towards that passion with beating hearts coming alive with the tension of both frustration and delight and some of us have more or less found it but there is always more until the day we die. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As for me, I am thankful to be in another season of taking inventory of my life and my heart and manifesting the passions God wove into my being when He knitted me together in the secret place. It’s a somewhat difficult but joyful process. It can be hard to see where you’ve neglected some passions in order to fulfill others but thankfully God gives us eyes to see and ears to hear. In truth, Im thankful for what my life has been able to manifest...very thankful... but there is always more! Im not in competition with anyone except myself. I want to become all I was meant to be...don’t we all? Comparison however is such a killer of dreams and progress. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. They are on a completely different journey than you are. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A deep desire of mine is when I stand before Him at the end of my life I want to know that I was totally wasted and poured out all that He poured into me. I want to be spent, done and I want to have ran the race with abandon and passion and courage. I don’t want to be half way done or to have neglected and abandoned dreams that became aborted. I want to say I was true to myself in spite of outside pressures or voices and in the face of opposition and naysayers. Anybody without any naysayer in their life is probably not dreaming big enough. In the end there is no one else you know? Just you and...God. Its always been between you and God anyway.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Also in addition to knowing and pursuing your dream, its important to recognize dream killers like unforgiveness, lies you believe about yourself or God, etc. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what is holding you back from manifesting your dream and how you can overcome! Write it down.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So here are some questions to aid you on your journey. These questions were presented to me during a ministry school class taught by Sarah Morgan on living out your dreams. They help you to remember who you are and what you love and to see what the purpose of you on this Earth really is all about. :) No matter what age you are or where you are in the process, remember, there is always more for you! More lives to touch and more ways to come alive. We go from glory to glory! And remember you can’t get back yesterday you can only begin today! Its NEVER too late to start! If you don’t know where to start, just ask God for the first step. Start small but whatever you do...start! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It’s amazing how many doors begin to open and all of heaven begins to back us up when we start walking towards the good works he predestined us to do! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here are some questions for your next journaling time. Don’t think too hard or write too much when answering them. Make your answers a little short and sweet. :)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1. Who are you? 2. How are you unique? 3. What is valuable to you? 4. What is beautiful to you? 5. What situations or circumstances stir you to passion/action/emotion? 6. What are you passionate about? 7. What is the greatest challenge you have overcome? 8. What are some of the other life-shaping experiences you have had? 9. Who inspires you and why? 10. What is it about them that I love and can graft into my own life?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So how far will you go? Will you be all you were meant to be? Will you let your heart’s cry grow faint? Or will you take life for all its worth? You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My encouragement is this: Admit your passions and dreams. Its in there. Have the courage to own it. Then take steps. Set a goal. Write it down. Go for it! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well whatever you do, have fun and don’t take life too seriously. Its meant to be a joy ride towards coming alive!!! No regrets! and Never give up!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some inspiring quotes as you dream and pursue the life you were created to have:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">” Mary Anne Radmacher</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“</span></span></u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.</span></span></b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">” -Steve Jobs</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">” Karen Ravn</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I shut my eyes in order to see.</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">” Paul Gaughin</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never’.” Martin Luther</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8_w4C3VQt_exQ4w9p0lOzOdwF5P7oyA8SBEdPb2jrO5ux3mg2dmDPfhlScK-yRG9LDinSM3O8aaJnuJdjqtkZe_u-kr0vpOEqdzt9XRylolvnBIVGWJPK_VKFy5nQQVTeZV7Uo36pqjN/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-05-21+at+6.32.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8_w4C3VQt_exQ4w9p0lOzOdwF5P7oyA8SBEdPb2jrO5ux3mg2dmDPfhlScK-yRG9LDinSM3O8aaJnuJdjqtkZe_u-kr0vpOEqdzt9XRylolvnBIVGWJPK_VKFy5nQQVTeZV7Uo36pqjN/s320/Screen+shot+2013-05-21+at+6.32.29+PM.png" width="320" /></a></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;">“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” </span></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“</span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” CS Lewis</span></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;">“Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.” </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;">“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” TE Lawrence</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Each of us has an inner dream that we can unfold if we will just have the courage to admit what it is. And the faith to trust our own admission. The admitting is often very difficult</span></span></b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #1f00ac; text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">” Julia Cameron</span></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;">“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.”</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mary Manin Morrissey</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font: 20.0px Palatino; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">O</span></span></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ur deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.<br />
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.<br />
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.<br />
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,<br />
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?<br />
Actually, who are you not to be?<br />
You are a child of God.<br />
Your playing small does not serve the world.<br />
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking<br />
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.<br />
We are all meant to shine, as children do.<br />
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.<br />
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.<br />
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously<br />
give other people permission to do the same.<br />
As we are liberated from our own fear,<br />
our presence automatically liberates others. </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;">Marianne Williamson</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You are loved and you are amazing! What are you always waiting for? You’re gorgeous talented and delightful. The world needs you. The world needs what God put inside of you. I know you are always comparing yourself to others but please stop. It’s not about them. No one is like you and no one has what you have to give to the world. I know its hard to believe sometimes but it really is true. I want you to run from here on. Throw your caution to the wind. Don’t think about what anyone else thinks. Stop thinking about that. Who cares anyway? You shouldn’t care so much. Live the life you’ve always imagined. Live big. Dream big. Go big or go home. This life is not for sissies and cowards. It’s for the brave the strong the courageous. The people who went up to bat even when their knees were shaking. Go for it. Stop waiting. Stop letting fear hold you back another second. Work it. Do your thing. Work hard for the dreams you hold so close to your heart. Stop sitting on the sidelines all the time...waiting for the right moment. The time is now. Seize every second. Seize this very second. Go. Time to go! Its go time! The world has never seen what it is about to see through you. You are going to bedazzle them. You are going to change the world with what is inside of you. Get ready get ready get ready. LIVE." -Me</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a video of someone who is really inspiring! He is a motivational speaker all over the world with a wife and family now and in spite of great odds is living the abundant life and manifesting His dreams! :) Be encouraged!</span><br />
<script src="http://www.godtube.com/embed/source/7ww6ylnx.js?w=400&h=255&ap=false&sl=true&title=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
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<a href="http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=7WW6YLNX">The most inspirational video you will ever see -- Nick Vujicic</a> from <a href="http://www.godtube.com/nickvtv">nickvtv</a> on <a href="http://www.godtube.com/">GodTube</a>.RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-2410935644731515842013-03-13T07:10:00.001-07:002013-03-13T07:10:41.829-07:00Song of SolomonJesus is the most romantic of all. So glad He is the man in my life. He loves me with a wild uncontrollable unstoppable love. <div>
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He loves you, His bride with a furious passion for intimacy. He wants to know you. He is ravished by you. He calls you flawless. </div>
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HE SAYS:::</div>
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<div class="poetry" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
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<span class="chapter-1"><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum mid-line" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>You’re so beautiful, my darling,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">so beautiful, and your dove eyes are veiled</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">By your hair as it flows and shimmers,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">like a flock of goats in the distance</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">streaming down a hillside in the sunshine.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">Your smile is generous and full—</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">expressive and strong and clean.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">Your lips are jewel red,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">your mouth elegant and inviting,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">your veiled cheeks soft and radiant.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">The smooth, lithe lines of your neck</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">command notice—all heads turn in awe and admiration!</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">Your breasts are like fawns,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-1-Song-4-5" style="position: relative;">twins of a gazelle, grazing among the first spring flowers.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Song-4-6-Song-4-7" id="en-MSG-7589" style="position: relative;"><br />The sweet, fragrant curves of your body,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-6-Song-4-7" style="position: relative;">the soft, spiced contours of your flesh</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-6-Song-4-7" style="position: relative;">Invite me, and I come. I stay</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-6-Song-4-7" style="position: relative;">until dawn breathes its light and night slips away.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-6-Song-4-7" style="position: relative;">You’re beautiful from head to toe, my dear love,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-6-Song-4-7" style="position: relative;">beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" id="en-MSG-7590" style="position: relative;">Come with me from Lebanon, my bride.</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Leave Lebanon behind, and come.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Leave your high mountain hideaway.</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Abandon your wilderness seclusion,</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Where you keep company with lions</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">and panthers guard your safety.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">You’ve captured my heart, dear friend.</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">You looked at me, and I fell in love.</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">One look my way and I was hopelessly in love!</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend—</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">far more pleasing than a fine, rare wine,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">your fragrance more exotic than select spices.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">The kisses of your lips are honey, my love,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">every syllable you speak a delicacy to savor.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Your clothes smell like the wild outdoors,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">the ozone scent of high mountains.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Dear lover and friend, you’re a secret garden,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">a private and pure fountain.</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Body and soul, you are paradise,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">a whole orchard of succulent fruits—</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Ripe apricots and peaches,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">oranges and pears;</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Nut trees and cinnamon,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">and all scented woods;</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">Mint and lavender,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">and all herbs aromatic;</span></span><br /><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">A garden fountain, sparkling and splashing,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Song-4-8-Song-4-15" style="position: relative;">fed by spring waters from the Lebanon mountains.</span></span></div>
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RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-51852316508953514362013-02-06T23:18:00.000-08:002013-02-06T23:32:10.568-08:00He is who He says He is...<br />
Most of us believe lies about Him. We think He doesn't see us or he's far away. We think He won't come through for us. We think He'll reject us so we don't get too close. We think He doesn't always provide. We think He's angry or disappointed with us. Oh we know who He is in our heads...its our hearts that get confused.<br />
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LIFE. Life can be hard. People can disappoint us and sometimes the people who are supposed to show us what God is like, our parents and those who are supposed to be caretakers and role models to us, tend to disappoint. Most of the time its completely unintentional. Hurting people hurt people and generally people do the best they can with what they have and what they've been given. You can't give away something you don't have...or something you've never been given or you've never allowed yourself to receive. <br />
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Most of us have experienced pain, some more than others. Painful things and painful places. Some people have suffered horrific things. Abuse, loss, abandonment, neglect, divorce, affairs, torture, torment, death, rape, trauma...What do we do with all that pain? A lot of us tend to bottle it up so deep inside that we forget about it and it just rots there affecting our lives without us even knowing it. Probably the people around us see it a lot more than we do and it can often result in even more pain and trauma. We don't know what to do with it so we just live life the best we know how... But that doesn't sound like abundant life to me. Does it to you?<br />
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John 10:10 tells us that the enemy comes to kill, to steal, and to destroy, but Jesus came to give us life and LIFE ABUNDANTLY. <br />
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Its really hard to live abundant life when your heart has vines of lies squeezing it to death. Lies about who God is and about who you are.<br />
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We have to give it to God. We have to let Him take us step by step through the process of healing, of sanctification, of growth towards life, of unwrapping the lies that try to squeeze life out of us, to kill us, and let Him set us free with His truth and His incredible love. We have to dive in with all we have to discover who He is...not just who He is in our heads. Our hearts are affected by everything that happens to us all our lives. Remember that car accident when you were 7? or the divorce that happened before you have memory of it? or that traumatic even when you were 25... chances are that it is still affecting part of you, a part of you that probably has misunderstandings about God, and part of you that doesn't know the real Jesus, the real Father who loves you unconditionally. He wants you to forgive and to let Him into those places...He wants to show you where He was in those difficult traumatic times you faced, what He was doing, what you were thinking and what the truth is... to bring healing freedom and comfort to you. <br />
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Some people think that once you "get saved" everything is peachy and you are now perfect and happy and healed and saved and set free. Well its true in part, but there is a working out of our salvation. There is a truth that sets us free as we step by step grow closer to Him and the knowledge of His love. <br />
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Oh how I love the journey. I love the process. No its not always easy. There are moments of frustration at times...sometimes I even want to give up. But truthfully I wouldn't trade the journey towards emotional wholeness I've had for ANYTHING in all of this world. You see...someone told me recently that "our experiences of God are meant to be pathways to God". Every experience of Him that I have had...leads me closer to His heart and makes me fall more deeply in love with Him. OH HE IS SO GOOD! HE IS SO SWEET AND KIND AND WONDERFUL. HE LOVES ME SO MUCH. MORE THAN I CAN EVER FATHOM. <br />
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My journey towards inner healing started almost 10 years ago. I had a pretty painful childhood...though there were many happy moments...in general I was struggling as a kid. Constant disappointment and let downs by those who were supposed to love me gave me a very warped perception of myself and of God. Emotional abuse and neglect left me broken. I remember the first time I saw an image of Father God's face during a time of prayer ministry. I will never forget it. It was the kindest most loving face I had ever seen in my life. I cried like a baby as I felt waves of His love wash over me. Now I get to see His face all the time whenever I want. I can ask Him questions and He will answer. I can talk to Him and He can talk to me. He can hold me and snuggle with me and make me feel safe and loved. I can even cry in His arms if I need to. Come on. Gosh there was a time in my life I didn't understand all of this. When it would've sounded crazy and foolish and fake. There was a time when I knew God the Father...but I didn't know He was MY FATHER, MY DADDY. That I was His beloved cherished daughter. Oh no...I had no clue about it. I knew He loved me and that He was God but I didnt know He was My Dad. No one had ever told me that before. So if no one has ever told you that...<br />
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Im telling you now. God is Your everything. You belong to Him. He is Your PERFECT Heavenly Father who loves you more than you can imagine. He bought You with His blood with the ultimate selfless act of love that sent shockwaves through all of history and time and space and heaven and hell. He loves you. He wants you. He wants you to know how much you are loved. How special you are. Oh He is so so good. <br />
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...and friends it's a journey!!! I believe until we die...like all life long relationships. A journey of discovering more of His love, more of His truth, more of His freedom. There is a place in me still learning to trust Him at the moment...and I love it! I love that there will be a time when I will know His love in a greater more powerful way. A day when I will see His face and His heart from a new angle...and I'll just fall more in love with HIM! OH HE IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!<br />
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(If anyone reading this feels like oh I really need to get prayer and counseling ministry for something I went through or Im going through please email me at wildharvester@gmail.com and I'll give you all the resources I have)<br />
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RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-80300876634162371032013-01-13T13:58:00.000-08:002020-04-16T17:43:59.160-07:00Two way journaling.A few years ago there was a sweet Iris Ministries missionary who first introduced me to the concept of writing God and allowing Him to write back. I started writing letters to God and then I would be very still and let him speak to me and write down what would first come to my mind. I would usually bring to God my worries and struggles or whatever was on my heart and He would reply with beautiful words of comfort direction and love that always ministered peace to me. <br />
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This year I've been attending a ministry school that trains in many areas of ministry. One of the things we were encouraged in at the very beginning of the school was learning to hear God's voice. I was also introduced to two way journaling during the classes, and it has been such an incredible source of growing in intimacy with God for me. So I want to share it with you! <br />
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Basically you write to God anything that you want to ask Him or that you feel is on your heart and mind. Then you can either bring Him a question or just allow Him to speak back to you concerning the things you wrote about. Something might come into your mind such as a question as you are writing what you feel He is saying and then you can write that question and again He will reply! The Bible says My sheep hear my voice... and its true! We really can hear God speak to our hearts directly if we will take time to listen and give Him a chance to speak to us.<br />
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Concerning Hearing God's Voice, we learned four keys taught originally by Mark Virkler. The four keys are:<br />
1. Quiet yourself down. (Get still. Let the racing thoughts slow down. Breathe deeply.)<br />
2. Fix your eyes on Jesus. (See Him in your minds eye or just focus your heart on His goodness.)<br />
3. Tune to spontaneous flow. (When our eyes become fixed on Him, words, images, scriptures, songs etc may begin to appear in our minds eye. Don't brush this off as something you are making up! Don't ignore the faintest image or idea. This is part of Gods design and how He created us to hear from Him).<br />
4. Write it down. (Begin to write what He brings to you!)<br />
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You will be so incredibly surprised by what He shows you and how it will change your life. It will become more clear and easy as you practice, read God's written word, and as you keep your thoughts pure before God. God's rhema words to us are divine and alive and full of power. For the skeptics out there, just know that you are not making it up! It really is God ministering to your heart. You will sometimes even be very surprised by what He has to say to you as you journal. Love is a two way street and prayer is a two way conversation. Your relationship with God shouldn't be just you talking. It should also be full of listening and allowing God to speak to you. We are in a love relationship with Him. He is our Father and we are His kids so of course He wants to speak to us and tell us all kinds of wonderful things! I have been so blessed by the things He has said to me over the last months and I have seen a new perspective of His heart and character since I have allowed His voice more room in my life.<br />
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Some good two way journaling questions to get you started: Father, what do you love about me? Father, how do you see me today? Father, what is on your heart for me today? Father, what are you really like? Father, who do you say that I am? Father, what is your love for me like? Father, show me a picture of how much you love me!<br />
<br />
I was journaling recently concerning how amazing God is as a Father. I asked Him some questions and this was His beautiful reply to me::: (I hope this will minister to Your heart!)<br />
<br />
I am steadfast. Even when you fail, I can make you win. I am with you at every second, at every moment of every day and every night. My greatest desire is for you to know my love by giving you the desires of your heart. I am a banner over you. I want the world to know you belong to me. I am proud to be your Father. I want to hold you and catch every tear you cry. I want you to trust me because I never lie. I never break my promises. I always come through on every promise. Im not something you've made up to comfort you. I am your true Father who knew you before you were born, who made your hair, who gave you your name, who made every part of you, who put life, desire, and destiny inside of you. You are my precious one in whom my soul delights and I want you to know the security of my steadfast love. I know the desires of your heart and I have plans to fulfill them. Stay in my will and follow my voice and my path of peace and I will satisfy your soul with good things.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sY0Vz8fvIhE" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you. Psalm 139 <br />
<br />
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<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-50050186064424582682013-01-01T06:32:00.000-08:002013-01-01T06:38:05.943-08:00DARE TO LIVEI've always been a pretty adventurous girl. Recently God reminded me just how much of an adventurer I was as a child. I was an only child so most of my adventures were just me and God...but sometimes I incorporated my friends too. I used to climb to the top of the tallest trees and spend hours there praying and looking at the sunset. I would spend hours in the lake with goggles and a snorkel making friends with the fish feeding them tortilla chips. A couple times we became so friendly that I would catch the fish with my bare hands and put them in a bucket and run inside spilling over with excitement to announce my victory. My friends and I used to camp out in the backyard all the time making a tent out of the hammock by draping it with blankets for sleepovers under the stars and next to the water. I indeed use to have Africa parties. I still have the photos to prove it...somewhere. My friends and I would wrap ourselves up in exotic printed materials we bought complete with a perfectly formed turban and earthy jewelry and go out into the woods and model african style, listen to African music, research some interesting fact about africa and eat lots of tropical fruits. I remember making sketches of how I was going to decorate my room like a full on jungle with vines and trees and wild animals. I remember riding horses at top speed so fast you just feel like you're more like soaring on the horse rather than riding a horse with a friend on their big piece of property out in the country. We would jump the creeks, and big rocks and ditches without any hesitation and with the feeling that we were so free and unstoppable. I will always remember that feeling and though I've tried to recreate that horse riding experience in my adulthood I've never quite managed to do it. By age 3, I was already an expert at catching small garden lizards and was so fascinated by them. At age 5, I caught one during our class field trip to the park. The teachers told me I had to leave it at the park but I've also always been a pretty determined person. I decided I was going to keep my lizard; I had caught it after all. So I hid it under my shirt and held it in place by covering it with my hands on the outside of my shirt. It was the perfect pose of someone with a stomach ache which I lied and said I had. When I got to school, I went to the bathroom and quickly put the lizard into my backpack. I knew it would be safe til I got home. That is until the unthinkable happened. We were in the classroom and one of the girls let out a roaring scream. Within what seemed like an instant complete chaos had broken out and children were shouting and crying and running around like there was a fire. Not all adventures go as planned, but still I think it was a successful scheme. I also remember when I was learning to ride a bicycle. I got pretty good at it. I got so good that I thought I should definitely try riding it without holding the handle bars. I got pretty good at that too. Wanting to take my risk taking up a notch, I thought hey I should definitely try tackling these speed bumps in our apartment complex without hands. The first one went pretty well. The second one however was a speed bump at the top of a very steep and very far down hill. Im talking a very big hill. I'm not sure what happened except that I along with my bicycle made it most of the way down the hill apart from each other and I ended up with a lot of blood on my clothes and missing both of my two front teeth. Not all adventures go as planned...<br />
<br />
I've always been a little bit daring and mischievous...certainly as a child (not all stories have been told here folks) and I think it has carried over into my adulthood. I love adventure. I love danger. I love knowing that I can push the limits and my Father is going to be with me no matter what and even if I crash and burn. This past year I experienced probably the hardest crash and burn I have yet in my life while on one of the greatest adventures I have ever attempted. Not all adventures go as planned. Sometimes in our quest and thirst for life and adventure we miss His voice and take a wrong turn. Mistakes are a part of life and God is so gracious and merciful. All in all, in my almost 30 years of living I'm learning that living adventurously is the only way to live. Its always best when we are hearing His voice and in step with Him in our adventures but occasionally we might get a little bit lost and that's okay as long as we learn from our mistakes. I have never tried to go over speed bumps on a bicycle since that toothless day, but I didn't stop living my dreams. I definitely didn't stop catching lizards after the classroom lizard fiasco but I did learn that it's probably best to respect what your teachers say. The thing is you live and learn but if you don't live because you're afraid of getting hurt then you'll never learn and you'll miss out on all the good stuff too. Most of my daring nature has ended up pretty well...I risked a lot and walked on water when Jesus and I decided to adopt a whole bunch of needy children and attempt to meet a lot of their basic needs and bring them home to the Father...I don't say that for any other reason than...Im thankful. Im thankful for the risk taker that Jesus is inside of me. I want my life to be marked by great risk. I want to be known as a risk taker...and I want to know myself as a risk taker. Its part of faith...and most importantly its part of knowing our Father. Even when we fall, he's there to pick us up. He puts people in our lives to take care of us. He never leaves us and He always loves and accepts us no matter what.<br />
<br />
So with just half a year left til I make it to 30 and on the first day of a brand new year, I just want life to know...that I haven't given up and I hope I never will. In spite of any fall, any crash, any burn and I've had some awesome ones... Im just getting started. I hope my 30's will be my most adventurous yet. I hope I will live them with whimsy spontaneity passion and risk like a woman in love with an amazing Creator. Thankfully since I have been adventurous up to now, I have a little wisdom to go along with all of that other stuff! :)<br />
<br />
Here's to life friends! Seize the day! Run the race! Fight the good fight! Dare to Live a life alive and awakened ...and no matter how many wins or how many losses...always stay close to Him and<br />
Never give up!<br />
<br />
Here is Switchfoot's Dare you to Move! Hope it inspires you. <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iOTcr9wKC-o" width="420"></iframe>RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-57352500826647269782012-12-28T10:49:00.002-08:002012-12-28T11:28:07.140-08:00LIVING LIFE ALIVE IN OVERFLOW<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
I think a lot of us go through life doing the typical
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe our lives are enriched
through marriage and children but a lot of times we just live with our hearts
only half alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fall into a typical
lifestyle that looks the same as someone who is living with a heart that is not
awakened to the greatest love story ever told…and maybe because it actually is the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of us haven’t let God love
us enough to bring us to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
part of the mystery of being “born again” …of resurrection life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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JESUS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an
amazing man!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man fully alive and awake
fully surrendered to His Father’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So close to the Father that everything He does and says is what He hears
from His Father’s lips. And what He sees His father doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man of integrity…but anything but
typical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lives an unusual life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A life of passion a life of compassion a life
of power a life of intensity and radiance a life of adventure a life that was
fully alive and fully awake to the booming extravagant heartbeat of His Father.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I so want to live my life like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I look at my life, the only things that
really matter to me are the ways I have loved others as well as the way others have loved me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way I have taken the fire of the Father
that He has so richly deposited in my heart and sown it and tried to spread it
all around in extravagant ways that move me outside of my box, outside of
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing is I can’t do it on my
own you know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But its just a posture of
the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A place to live FROM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living from a place of being loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you really live there, I truly believe you
can’t help but burn to give it away to others and it’s a supernatural thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its not like you have to muster up energy to
drag yourself down to the boring soup kitchen to serve the homeless….its the
opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its an overflow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its an overflow of His grace, an overflow of
His love, an overflow of being in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You know young lovers, the wild things they do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to live my life with Jesus like that
all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the only thing that I have found that
makes my life really matter, mean something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know Jesus loves me even if I never do anything for anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its not about making Jesus love me in
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s already a given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact its such a given, that I have come
alive to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been awakened to
it…and so I am so crazy in love that I would go to the ends of the world to
make an expression of that love come alive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the greatest treasures in my life is the overflow
that has happened in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the
people closest to my heart who I now consider to be dear friends are teens who
have gone through so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I say
gone through so much consider one of the girls in my home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her father was killed when she was 4, and he
was eaten by the villagers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mother
was poisoned when she was 7 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The mother was hospitalized while this little girl was forced to stay
home alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A neighbor entered her small
house and raped her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She begged the man
not to take all the money so he gave her about $6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She forced herself to walk down to the little
local clinic where her mom was and gave the money to the doctor to help save
her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doctor’s eyes filled with
tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls legs were streaming
down with blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He treated her and said
he would take care of her but she lied and told him she had another mom who
could help her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spent the next few
years on the streets of Rwaanda…begging for coins from taxi drivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She faced abuse and torment on the streets but at least some
friends on the street helped her to get food and basic care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was just barely surviving when a woman
found her and took her to the capital city of Uganda to be a child worker, she
did a lot of chores and helped to sell local vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now she was a preteen and befriended one
of the teachers at our school who told her about Royal Hope’s program for free
education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually the girl facing physical
abuse came to be in the residential care of our ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lives with me and is such a sweet
treasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is still healing her of
all the past wounds and Im so thankful for the future she has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an incredible honor to get to be a part
of God’s words to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To tell her how
much He loves her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That He knit her
together in her mother’s womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That He
never wanted her to face all that she has faced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That He wants her to be blessed as His
treasured possession, as a princess in the palm of His hand..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is only one story…there are many more
like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls in my home have
almost all been raped, physically and verbally abused, been child workers and
suffered things no child should ever even hear about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I just praise God for bringing me to Uganda and for allowing
me to sow seeds of His love into these young lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I praise Him for enriching my life and
bringing me to life through this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has
not been easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has not been for
free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has cost me so much
actually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times it has cost me my
safety my health certainly finances, relationships, comforts,
heartbreak and so much more…but I give glory to the Lord for this part of my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bless Him for all of those who
hold this ministry up through financial support and other means of support to
see that it can grow and flourish and continue to multiply the love of God into
young traumatized lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My joy is being
a part of the Father’s rescue of these children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rescues and saves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He really does…and He delights in doing it
through His children who have come to know the fullness of His love that brings
us to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sets us free from a
life that is mundane and typical and boring into a life of intensity,
adventure, passion, courage, and wild extravagant love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh what a wonderful Savior.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I also praise Him for new ways He has given me to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New dreams and new visions for the
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His LOVE never stops, it just
keeps growing and multiplying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just
keeps on giving and loving and creating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It keeps on bringing us to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It keeps on awakening us to our hearts deepest desires dreams and passions
that will bring the world His love so that they can come alive too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25)</span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/heDM3D75Yb8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-88541166890324746122012-12-18T05:18:00.000-08:002012-12-18T06:23:48.358-08:00Fullness.The past two weeks have been amazing! <br />
<br />
A team from Iris Ministries came to visit and do their outreach following the Iris Harvest Missions School in Pemba, Mozambique! It was a wonderful time with them! They represented the nations New Zealand, USA, England, Scotland, and Canada! It was fun to have so many English accents around!<br />
<br />
We were very busy this week but it was worth every second of love, life, joy, and salvation.<br />
<br />
The team arrived last week on a Saturday Night! The next day we went to church and went out to lunch with our kids! It was a great time to go out and enjoy Ugandan food and its always a special treat for our kids to eat lunch out!<br />
<br />
I was really excited we had Becky Banaszak here with us this week too! Becky is a professional videographer so she was busy capturing the beauty of all the special moments this week! She got a little ill and missed our village outreach but she was really a trooper and I was so impressed how well she handled Africa for her first time here in the midst of jet lag, new food and living environment, and with such grace love and enthusiasm and with such a busy schedule! She was such a cheerleader to me all week! Love this girl!<br />
<br />
We took Becky and the team to see our children perform in a public setting for the first time ever! They did a great job! We are so thankful to Kika Dance Troupe and their director, Kaddu, for his amazing gift to train our children! They are being trained by the #1 Dance Troupe in all of East Africa! What? God is so awesome!!! These kids were absolutely shining the light of Jesus through every step! I was so proud and so overjoyed! <br />
<br />
Monday we spent most of the day getting acquainted and the team helped wrap over 300 Christmas Gifts for our children at Royal Hope! It was just starting to feel like Christmas! They had some help from our teachers and children too! They dived into boxes and boxes of toys and school supplies to pull out and organize and wrap up treasures for our treasures! :)<br />
<br />
Tuesday and Wednesday we spent at the school doing games, songs, sports, crafts, and even skits! The team went into every classroom to share a skit of the story of the Prodigal Son....they taught how forgiving and loving is our Heavenly Father!!! The kids laughed as they acted out being pigs that the younger son was feeding! :) The team also spent time ministering prophetically in prayer to everyone of our staff members! We are so thankful for this heavenly refreshment! Many were very deeply touched!<br />
<br />
Thursday was the big shabang!!! We had our huge Christmas Party/Speech Day at Royal Hope! Many people from our community came together to see the performances of our children. We graduated our top class, celebrated the progress of our school, and gave our Christmas Gifts to EVERY CHILD! What a joy knowing we are giving children the only Christmas gift they will receive!!! A special thanks to Divine Care Ministries and Mama Phoebe Sozi who donated shoeboxes full of goodies to us!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxajLKYUkSUmbt-9-37keMEUhXPU8dzA8JABNR53r4JFD3KOPrAcEVO3EBSHa5s6i1LikRxgiQ8OMe_RGTAXLcjkAo3z6ORnImBKh6TuZiecduqvlvZ1gnHPbowhmwyqlapse9OjeDLDK/s1600/483A0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxajLKYUkSUmbt-9-37keMEUhXPU8dzA8JABNR53r4JFD3KOPrAcEVO3EBSHa5s6i1LikRxgiQ8OMe_RGTAXLcjkAo3z6ORnImBKh6TuZiecduqvlvZ1gnHPbowhmwyqlapse9OjeDLDK/s640/483A0309.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our dance team performing on speech day!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Friday we rested some during the day and then prepared for our evangelism outreach in our very own village! Many came to salvation and were healed and set free! The team ministered in prayer and shared testimonies of God's faithfulness in their lives! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha09B68aef0cuu1xSZl6bZ1wxE62nfBZXZej65v92yaO7WrHQ5oK7ocofUptQ0DLJh3gU2UHf9zMmIwAjxDmEDx2-zkIVwPOfmmhujarVGpzpDwwzGvgozY4sav1JB1_hLIWosb-yFdwwS/s1600/DSCN1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha09B68aef0cuu1xSZl6bZ1wxE62nfBZXZej65v92yaO7WrHQ5oK7ocofUptQ0DLJh3gU2UHf9zMmIwAjxDmEDx2-zkIVwPOfmmhujarVGpzpDwwzGvgozY4sav1JB1_hLIWosb-yFdwwS/s400/DSCN1920.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This precious muslims teen girl came to Jesus during our friday night outreach and asked for a Christian name! Since her name started with H, we gave her the name Heidi in honor of Mama Heidi Baker and Iris!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Saturday<br />
Some of the women we partner with brought their beautiful african crafts over for the team to purchase! So fun to get to be a blessing to these incredible african queens!<br />
<br />
<br />
Sunday<br />
We ministered in a very poor local church with an incredibly humble and pure hearted pastor that has been such a blessing to us. The team ministered from the story of the Prodigal Son and many were set free of unforgiveness, guilt, and shame receiving the Father's Love and forgiveness! FREEDOM! :)<br />
<br />
We also did a treasure hunt in Kampala's poorest slum which was probably my favorite part of the week! We asked the Holy Spirit for names of people, or types of clothing or appearance, and what they might need. The Holy Spirit gave me the name Maria, a picture of a woman dressed in mismatched patterns of fabric, and the clue for something orange! ;) A little bitty girl ran up to me and said very excitedly and loudly "how are you"... When I asked her for her name she said, MARIA! Clue #1 check mark! Then I asked her where her mommy was...and she said at home. She asked if she could go and get her and I said yes! She ran off but came back without her mommy. I said okay let's go there together. We went and I found two ladies sitting on the doorstep with very mismatched patterns of fabric! ;) Clue #2 checkmark! The ladies were of a catholic belief that doesn't believe Jesus is divine. They truly worship Mary! I preached to both of these sisters and they both accepted to receive Jesus in their hearts and follow Him alone! We ministered to Maria's mother concerning abuse and mistreatment from men and that God longed to bring healing and freedom to her heart! It was a powerful time! As we walked away, I turned around to see if there was anything orange and viola! There was a bright orange bucket! :) Clue #3 checkmark! I was so thankful and encouraged to have found my treasures! Many other treasures were found including a man who was overjoyed when we showed him his name written on our paper and he rededicated his life back to Jesus. More salvations. A woman healed of severe pregnancy pain. A woman with full blown AIDS who was very sick was prayed over for healing and she left Islam to come home to Jesus! So many more!!!!!!! GOD WAS REALLY MOVING! :-) and it was lots of fun! As we were going, I realized I had forgotten to bring the Christmas toys for the children. I told the team we are just going to have to give away lots of signs and wonders! God is so faithful to show up when we step out! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoxFRPfKaRKrO718axs7ZP21BXuMVwfqKLiF9IW9qvbatc1Z48BgxCKnNHYQC4eKJqcKtZpK1RS5Gde5mcFQV_BvbuwAw8kdpGqBXp_o8XWxRQjVN7kuTdQdtlpn7HS1GRcb1XRfb8-k8/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoxFRPfKaRKrO718axs7ZP21BXuMVwfqKLiF9IW9qvbatc1Z48BgxCKnNHYQC4eKJqcKtZpK1RS5Gde5mcFQV_BvbuwAw8kdpGqBXp_o8XWxRQjVN7kuTdQdtlpn7HS1GRcb1XRfb8-k8/s400/IMG_0587.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet sisters who found Jesus. The slums are my favorite! That is Maria in the background!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
I wish I had more pictures to show but the team members took tons and hopefully I'll get some of theirs! (hint hint if you are reading this) ;-)<br />
<br />
Throughout this week, I have come to realize that the state of our hearts and our heart motives are so important. We need to guard our hearts because out of our hearts flows life! Joy and peace should be overflowing in our lives. We should always minister out of overflow of intimacy and blessing...out of fullness. Still even in the drier places and seasons we walk through, we are refreshed as we refresh others. Though my body is pretty spent, my heart is so full after this incredible week of ministry. <br />
<br />
LOVE...it is all nothing without true love and compassion and deep connection to our savior! Stay close to Him. Give love away this Christmas! Worship Him. Stay in the place of abiding! Its the BEST PLACE to be!!!!!!! No matter where you are in the world, if you are hidden in His heart...you are truly blessed! <br />
<br />
Many people face so much challenge and heartbreak in this nation of Uganda...Im praying this Christmas that they will all be HELD by the comforting arms of our Heavenly Father and that they will receive signs and wonders and flashes and glimpses of His great love for them! May you also feel His arms as you are Held. <br />
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RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-7488245425074992952012-11-11T11:34:00.001-08:002012-11-11T11:47:55.463-08:00ChrysalisThere are times in life when you come to the end of yourself. Time where you just have to give up, let go, and let God be God...which is okay. It's a good thing actually. You may have noticed I haven't blogged in forever. I stopped doing a lot of things actually. I had stopped singing and writing songs...I stopped creating. I was running and hiding from what I knew was coming...CHANGE. Change can make us afraid. We cling so hard to things we might lose holding on for dear life Things we love or think we love. Things that bring us comfort and have become familiar. Things we PUT OUR HOPE IN...and cling to and believe will bring us something we maybe won't find again. In the process, part of ourself starts to shut down. We know we are giving in to fear and we hate it. The thing is usually when the winds of change are blowing and you feel them and you're afraid... Most often what comes after the change is so much better than what was before. But it's the season in between that we fear. The letting go, the shedding of old skin and patterns, the work it takes to renew our mind, the uncomfortable place of not having whatever it was that brought us comfort.<br />
<br />
That's the season Im in right now. I finally let go and embraced change but Im in that in between stage. Oh it is a good thing trust me...but its not easy. I had to take my hope out of old patterns and put it back in God. I am having to renew my mind, deal with my pain and my past once again on another level, and embrace a season of hiddenness and nurture. Change is not easy, but in the end it is worth it. <br />
<br />
How many times has a creepy crawly little caterpillar taken your breath away with its beauty? Probably not many times if ever. They are cute and furry maybe but nothing amazing. They crawl in the dirt and on the ground and are at mercy to whatever might run over or step on them. They have to cling to the ground. <br />
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But then something happens and they get tired of the ground. They get tired of the dirt and the crawl and they know there is so much more. There is more to life than their humble and sad existence stuck to the ground. So they start taking steps big steps...things they have never done in their entire life. They attach themselves to a branch and start spinning their own silk. They close themselves off from the world and their old life. Outside they look motionless and peaceful but inside they are busy at work with an incredible transformation. Its the stage called chrysalis. A time when the butterfly is protected from the outside world and cant see anything going on around. It's a self-focused time to do the work it takes to change. <br />
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It appears to the world almost like nothing is happening but a caterpillar is inside that little shell of silk doing things it has never done before. Becoming something it has only dreamed about or imagined or sensed it could become. It is becoming what is was always meant to be...a butterfly.</div>
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It's a step of faith to embrace change. It's putting our hope in God instead of in our own abilities or comforts. Sometimes to the world it might look crazy or even wrong but that's just because they don't always know what is coming. (most of the time we don't know what's coming either and that's what makes it faith. We just know there's something more!) Imaging if you never knew that a caterpillar could become a butterfly. You might even look at a cocoon and wonder if the caterpillar had died in there...but there is a resurrection and a life after death that is so beautiful and wonderful and free. The process of change is such a wonderful beautiful thing and while the process is so beautiful sometimes painful and wonderful and enriches life...the end result is heavenly! BUTTERFLIES!!!!!! Breathtaking creatures that glorify their Creator. That fly high...above the ground and dirt never to grovel or crawl again...but soar on the wings of destiny and beauty. Here's to the process of change, growth, following that little voice that says there's so much more than this. Here's to the courage to spin our own silk, to close ourselves off from the world, and do the work it takes to become what we were always meant to be. Free, flying, breathtaking creatures that glorify the very one who dreamed us to life.</div>
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We all have areas where we are still caterpillars crawling around afraid of change and turning a deaf ear to the little voice that keeps telling us there's more...and that's okay, and hopefully we will finally reach the point where we get tired of hearing that voice and start listening to it and following it. What a tragedy it would be to never listen. To always run and hide and never become a butterfly. May you know the perfect moment when you are ready and may you embrace it! By the way...it's usually easier than you think it will be and you will thank yourself one day.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">How does one become a butterfly?" she asked pensively.<br />"You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."</span></div>
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<br />RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-20547148126565785792012-08-01T02:25:00.001-07:002012-08-01T02:25:26.971-07:00Medical Clinic: Giving LIFE to Uganda<br />
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<strong>Dear Friends and Sponsors, </strong></div>
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<strong>We are so thankful for your support on behalf of our precious children in Uganda! Without you we truly could not give so many children in our community hope, life, and love.</strong></div>
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<strong>However, we have recognized an urgent need in our ministry. Since the </strong><strong>beginning of our school, we have lost children to preventable and treatable diseases such as measles or malaria. I cannot describe to you the feeling I had the first time I lost a child at Royal Hope. I felt like I was in a bad dream as we went to purchase a small coffin for a 6 year old girl. We went to the hospital where I asked God to raise up her cold body and watched her mother raise her arms in worship... tears streaming down her cheeks as she sang to God that without Him she would not have made it through all she has passed through.</strong></div>
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<strong>We have lost a few other children since that day and I cannot continue my work knowing that there's something we can do to prevent the loss of life of beautiful precious innocent ones. </strong></div>
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<strong>While we do our best to provide medical care for our nearly 400 children driving them to local clinics in town, sometimes it is difficult for our staff who are mostly teachers working full time to recognize how urgent a child's illness and need for treatment is and to treat it in time. </strong></div>
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<strong>We have come to terms with the fact that we need to hire a full time school nurse as well as to have a small clinic to treat our children in order to protect their lives.</strong></div>
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<strong>In order to do this, we need to raise the first year's operational cost to staff and stock our small clinic. </strong></div>
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<strong>In total we need $6000 for just the first year and we have a goal to raise this in the next TWO WEEKS!!!! </strong></div>
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<strong>Will you consider making a one time gift to help us reach this goal so that we can give healing, life, and medicine to children and extend the ways in which we are able to be the hands, feet, and heart of Christ to them? Will you join us in truly saving lives? </strong></div>
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<strong>If so you can do so through our website and all giving is now tax deductible.</strong></div>
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<strong>Just follow the link below to donate: </strong></div>
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<strong>www.myfathershouseintl.org/donate</strong></div>
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<strong>We thank you again so much for your willingness to be an answer to the prayer of a young child in need in Uganda! We pray and know the Lord will bless you for your generosity.</strong></div>
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<strong>Please feel free to forward this to friends who you know might like to help us with this!</strong></div>
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<strong>In Jesus</strong></div>
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<strong>Rebecca</strong></div>RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-87878771390716906282012-07-11T08:30:00.003-07:002012-07-11T08:37:49.675-07:00Remembering the First Love...Today we had a surprise visit from a team from Tennessee... They were brought over by my beautiful Ugandan mama, Mama Phoebe! She's a precious, anointed, wise, beautiful, regal, fashionable African woman. She called me up on the phone and said Rebecca is it okay to bring some visitors over to meet you? <br />
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We always welcome teams with a line up of our children who sing them a welcome song as the team walk through the parade! It is cultural here to honor visitors and to thank them for their time so we love to welcome them in a sweet way! :)<br />
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When they arrived, we greeted them and welcomed them into the line of kids. After the chidren were dismissed back to their classes, Pastor Peter, Mama Phoebe's other half, asked me... so what's the plan?<br />
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I didn't know what to say. I asked them if they wanted to play some games with the kids. They told me they only had about one hour and then they were leaving for the airport! The visitors said they came just to hear my story and how I ended up in Uganda!<br />
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We huddled into the church with about 30 small children under the age of 5... I suddenly felt put on the spot. The even got a video camera out! Thankfully Michael came and sat next to me, so I didn't feel as uncomfortable. <br />
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As I told my story again, like I have many many times, I suddenly was hit with emotion and started to cry a little bit. I remembered those first moments I came to this country! I remembered the first time I ministered to beautiful African children in a dirt poor school. I walked into the classroom and as I began to speak, tears began to fill my eyes and love overflowed in my heart. Here I was...FINALLY! After years of dreaming of this land...after years of dreaming of these children... After all the pain of my childhood because I didn't have my father in my life...here it was. The dream, the destiny, the redemption. The children I had wept over in sleepless prayerful nights...were right before my eyes. I finally composed myself and began to share the message that i have now shared with thousands of children in Uganda. When I first came I had a little brown baby doll I named Suubi (Hope) that I used as a visual aid! ;0) <br />
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"I want to tell you about someone very special. Someone who is very special to me. He is someone who is my best friend. He is my heavenly Father. When I was growing up, I didn't have my earthly father. Maybe some of you also don't have your earthly father or even your earthly mother so you know that can be a very sad thing. How many of you don't have your mother or your father in your life? (hands go up!) Well, when I was young, God showed me that He was my father. He told me that He will never leave me. He loves me so much. He is proud of me. He told me that He wants to hold me when I cry. (hug and comfort little baby doll). Talk to me (whisper to the baby doll). Hear my heart. (Listen to the baby doll). and make me feel better inside my heart. He wants to do all of those things for you too. My Father is not just any Father. He is a KING! Not only is He just a King...but He is the King of Kings! If He is a King, what does that make you? If you are His son or daughter. It makes you a PRINCE...or a ...PRINCESS! That means you are royalty!"...etc. <br />
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I love to watch children's eyes as they giggle at the idea of being a prince or princess with a heavenly Father who is a King. I love this message. It is my life message to these children in Africa and to the world.<br />
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Father LOVES you. He wants you. He wants a real relationship with you. He will never leave you. He's proud of you. He's not just any Father, He is a King. The King of the Universe wants to be intimate with you. You are His Son or His Daughter because of Jesus. This means that you are not just any ordinary person. You are royalty. Called chosen and destined to rule and to reign and to carry the heart of the King. You are a prince or a princess with a royal destiny.<br />
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As I remembered those first moments in this country and emotion flooded my heart, something in me was revived. I have been through so much here. Witchcraft, Persecution, deaths, diseases, children who have been raped and abused, gossip, sometimes difficult staff, betrayal on top of the weight of carrying a ministry and believing God for finances...sometimes the cares of the world can make the flames wane...but oh I love how the Lord loves to rekindle. <br />
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I sat in the dirt today as little 3, 4, 5, and 6 year olds gathered in a crowd around me. We sang an old song I used to always sing with the children. It is in Luganda but in English it says. Jesus loves me and He loves you. Jesus Loves me and He loves you. Daddy loves me and He loves you. Daddy Loves me and He loves me. Halleluah oh oh oh Daddy loves me. Hallelujah Oh Oh Oh Daddy loves me. Hallelujah Oh Oh Oh Daddy Loves me. Hallelujah Oh Oh OH Daddy loves me. Hallelujah Oh Oh OH Daddy loves me. As we sang, tears filled me eyes and I don't think the children even noticed though they were looking straight into them with sweet little delighted and in awe smiles on their faces. As I sat there, I thought to myself...wow I will never really leave this land. <br />
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Thank you God for rekindling love in my heart...for somehow reminding me why Im here...and why I want to be here. Why love Your magnificent amazing LOVE compels me.RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-83978296053611236922011-12-31T00:42:00.001-08:002011-12-31T05:23:44.468-08:00Soli Deo GloriaI'm a lover but Im also a fighter. Im a missionary but Im also an artist. I have a heart of mercy and I also have a heart for Justice. I want to speak words of love but I also want to speak words of truth. I want to make people feel good but I also want to make people feel uncomfortable. Uncomfortable enough to think to grow to change to give to go to love to fight. I want to ache and bleed for a cause for a God who saved me who rescued me who deserves so much more than we give to Him. <br /><br />This year I can feel it. I can feel a collision coming. I can feel the heaven's coming and more of my authentic heart's true cry, my authentic being will be allowed to sing, to dance, to create...quite literally ha. For several years I have felt like I have only been able to move in certain passions of my heart in certain places. I have laid down certain dreams with discomfort in order to lay down my life for a nation I have fallen passionately in love with. <br /><br />Im so excited that next year God is beginning to open doors to me that I have only dreamed of. Allowing me to pick up certain creative parts of my self that I laid down. <br /><br />His Timing is perfect, His ways are higher than ours. He is always good. In our discomfort, when we feel our hearts are breaking, Oh He is always waiting to release the desires of our hearts in His perfect timing. <br /><br />My dream has always been to change the world through song. I get to take a glimpse into that this year and I'm beyond excited about it! Oh My Daddy is a Dream King. :-) He knows people in high places. He's extremely wealthy and very influential. He's already won every battle. He can even make miracles. I am quite blessed to call Him Father...and how I love to do so. <br /><br />This year, 2011, has been so full. Full of hope, full of joys, full of challenges and sorrows at times, full of new beginnings, full of growth and progress, full of change, and certainly full of love. I have been so overwhelmed at the growth our ministry has gone through over the last 18 months. It still makes my head and heart spin sometimes. Im so thankful to those who allowed themselves to be moved by God's Spirit to bless us and to give and to pray and to visit! <br /><br />My prayer remains that the body of Christ will be Moved deeply with compassion to action...that their hearts will be broken for the helpless abandoned and destitute, and revived with hope and tenacious faith that the same Spirit who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead and lives on the inside of us...can change lives and heal hearts and save souls...through our willing hands, feet, and hearts in action. <br /><br />May God Bless you richly in every way in 2012!!!!!!!!!!******************<br /><br />Here's a few Bono quotes that inspired me today. :) May they inspire you and challenge you in the new year to come.<br /><br />The Gospels paint a picture of a very demanding, sometimes divisive love, but love it is.<br /><br />God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them.<br /><br />All the best songs are co-written by God, y'know!<br /><br />Well, the going rate for change is not cheap. Big ideas are expensive.<br /><br />The fact is that this generation -- yours, my generation ... we're the first generation that can look at poverty and disease, look across the ocean to Africa and say with a straight face, we can be the first to end this sort of stupid extreme poverty, where in the world of plenty, a child can die for lack of food in it's belly.<br /><br />Eight million people die every year for the price of going out with your friends to the movies and buying an ice cream. Literally for about $30 a head per year, you could save 8 million lives. Isn't that extraordinary? Preventable disease - not calamity, not famine, nothing like that. Preventable disease - just for the lack of medicines. That is cheap, that is a bargain.<br /><br />Imagine if a third of the kids at your local primary school were AIDS orphans. That's a reality in Africa where the parents of 13 million children have been killed by AIDS.<br /><br />Music can change the world because it can change people<br /><br />At a certain point, I just felt, you know, God is not looking for alms, God is looking for action.<br /><br />I love this work I do. It's a privilege to serve the poor,....<br /><br />AMEN.RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894198668254875286.post-15213217602073944192011-12-12T22:47:00.001-08:002011-12-15T00:12:06.894-08:00God is near to the broken hearted.My heart broke for her once. We sat in this same living room a year ago when she told me her story. And now here we were again in the same room with another part of the story and I wept with her again as she asked me for my advice. She married a man she loved dearly...before she was born again. A few years into her marriage, she got saved and started attending church. Her husband didn't. A few years into her marriage, she found out he got a second wife. She was heartbroken just from the news but then she found out the woman was HIV pos. Her (now former) pastor advised her that she should stay with this man because God hates divorce. She became obsessive. Going to the clinic twice a month to check her status in torment and fear of infection. She told me that God eventually set her free from having to check and she just knew he would protect her. Then during that, the second wife bewitched her children. This means that she put curses on them to kill them but instead of death, they just got very sick. Her 5 year old bled from the mouth uncontrollably and no doctor could find any reason why. Her 9 year old boy was vomiting. Then the woman put witchcraft inside the car she was supposed to travel in. She was supposed to sit in a particular seat but instead her brother sat in the seat. He was killed in the car crash. The witchcraft remains were found. And still she stayed with him. He was verbally abusive but he was in her words "not a bad man". After all, he cared for and provided for her children. Without him, she didn't know how she would survive or how her children would survive. Then he started telling her that he wanted to take her children to live with "the other lady" in the village. She refused. He threatened her but eventually relented. I sobbed as I heard her story. I told her I could not be as strong as she was to stay in that marriage. I explained to her that such things don't happen often in my country...and to be honest with you, this is not the worst of the worst story I have heard by any stretch. <br /><br />And she came to me again a few days ago. She told me that her husband wants to take her children for good to live with the other lady in the village where they have their farm. He told her that is she refused to let him go with their children, all of her children, that she would never see him again and she should never again ask her for money. Difficult decisions for her...but not too difficult. She told me...I came to you because I want you to advise me. She told me I know he is just doing this because he doesn't have money. She kept defending him saying again that he's not a bad man. I told her I understood her pain and it was evident by the tears that filled my eyes. I knew that...she loved the man despite all of that chaos. I knew her world as she knew it as flawed as it was ...was being ripped apart. I knew her heart was aching and bleeding and broken. I told her to be strong and not to let him take her children away. Her husband and "the other lady" are not born again. Her responsibility is to care for her children and raise them in the ways of Christ. I told her that God would provide for all of her needs as she trusted in Him, he would be faithful. I gave her a little bit of my personal money to help sustain her during the transition....<br /><br />and my heart just hurt for her. I could see the pain in her eyes. Mostly pain from losing the man she loved as twisted as the story was...and also the pain and fear of losing her children...and then her entire world. <br /><br />Her words still ring in my ears, and tears filled my eyes...."I've come to you so you can advise me." and I ask myself, who am I? Why am I here with these kinds of situations? Who am I to advise anyone what to do in something like this?<br /><br />...and our hearts just ached together there. Sitting in my little sitting room with the children running in and out of the house during our conversations. What a strange and different world it is here. A world where women share their husbands and defend them. A world where men freely take other wives (though NOT in the born again churches!). A world where there is much pain and heartache and people forced to be so strong that it breaks your heart. My prayer is for healing for restoration of what God intended for these people in the Garden of Eden. Where he made them in His image, male and female...to be partners for two to become one. To love and serve each other. To hold each other's hands in tough times. Not to compete or make demands, but just to simply love with free and open hearts. May God heal hearts here that have been so wounded and battered. May He pour out restoration as His children lost and wild come home to Him, to know His love and truth that sets us so free to live to love to cherish and be cherished and to simply be who we were created to be.RebeccaKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05106115194925545936noreply@blogger.com6