autumn/fall

Well it's here, it's fall, in NZ we say Autumn, but until writing this blog that didn't even cross my mind. It is strange the longer I'm here the less I use NZ termanology.

the beginning of Fall in KC is a lot like an NZ Summer, the sun is still warm and just cooler temperutures. I know it's really fall because tonight I switched my winter/summer wadrobe, which doesn't take very long as I don't have that many clothes, it's just getting out my super warm clothes from a bag and replacing them with summer tank tops and dresses that I wont wear 'till I VISIT NEW ZEALAND. I'm already super excited and it's still 4 months away but it'll go fast I know it. And my friends here will get the countdown too, I think I will start at 30 days.

My friend Sarah will probably come for 2 1/2 weeks which is so exciting to actually travel with someone else. I have done this trip quite a few times now so the idea of having someone in line with me is nice and being able to show her my country.

The end and the beginning

Well, Orientation with our interns is over. Which means I will no longer spend most of my day in the multipurpose room though I have to say I have really enjoyed orientation. Stuart spoke a lot about fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit it was so helpful and simple. Talk to God. all the time. About the Word.

I'm alone in my room for the first time since last Friday as one of my interns from last track stayed in my room until her apartment was done. I loved having her stay with me and staying up a little late talking about Jesus, we had a wonderful conversation last night about the cross that brought us both to silence, just wanting to think about the Lord's goodness.

Now Orientation is over FITN really begins, I'm starting to work on connecting with my eight interns, taking classes, doing what we do. I love it. And love Jesus through it all.

That's all for now
W

Sometimes I forget.......

I kinda forgot that I had a blog, it's true, I guess because my days have been filled with other thoughts.

The Summer interns left Monday, I really loved this track and I'm glad that all my interns are sticking around, for at least another 3 months. We have 120 interns arriving on Friday, basically double what we had this time. I know this is going to be a big growing curve for a lot of us, I'm excited and also feeling the weight of 120 young adults who the night watch are entrusted with for 3 months.

If I could sum up what I hope for these interns it would be that I want to win them over to the wisdom of going deep in prayer, the Word and fasting and I want them to become friends of Jesus. Really that is what is important, that they love the Lord with all their hearts, and Jesus the bridegroom, king and judge would find friends in these ones.

On a completely different note I meet Adi, Sommer's little girl for the first time today, I had been praying with Sommer throughout her pregnancy so it's amazing to meet the little one that I felt kick inside Sommer! She is the sweetest thing and I look forward to seeing this little girl grow into being a woman of grace and beauty

Why I am thankful for IHOP-KC

I can live out my dream to be before the Lord for hours at a time

My life is very simple and uncomplicated

I have teachers and leaders who care about me pursuing righteousness

I have friends who don't get offended if, when they ask me to hang out, I say no because I want to be in the place of prayer

I get to sing as much as I want

People care more about the Word of God then being "right"

We never stop worshiping Jesus

I'm reminded of the importance of living the Sermon on the Mount

Personal days

Well I did it, I have taken 5 personal days and including my Sabbath I have six "days off". That is pretty good for me because I do have a tendency to just keep going and going but I know the benefit of taking time out to reflect on the Lord's goodness, on where I am heading and how I think I need to get there.

People do lots of things when they are on vacation. I have to say it's strange for me this time because either I ski or I am by water, but there is no ocean in the background as I sleep. Oh well, I'm still getting outside and chilling out around rivers and lakes.

There is one thing that I think is important for us to do, actually two things. One, is to treat our vacation times as extended Sabbaths, as times to trust in the Lord for provisions and thank him for all that he has done. Secondly to take stock of where we are. Am I doing what I think God is calling me to, if not why? Am I fulfilling the goals I have made for this year or was I unrealistic? I think it's important to look at how we live our lives WITH THE LORD, not naval gazing but being honest in where we are in our walk of obedience. Look at our schedules what is working, what isn't and taking responsibility if change is needed.

So really look at what the vision is that the Lord has given us and am I being faithful with what I think he is saying. Because otherwise we can find ourselves just going and doing life and then realize we have no idea what we are doing because we never took the time out to think about, life just kinda happened.

I hope that makes sense.
Me

Hooray for me

Another little milestone in my year.

I have just finished outlining the New Testament, I have been doing this by re writing each verse in my own words, then summarizing the paragraph. And I've finished, I'm very excited especially since I'm about to go on a little break and it's nice to have things finished I can spend some time deciding what the next project is, though Jeremiah is going to get a lot of attention from me as I decided to focus on outlining the New Testament after I finished phase two of Jeremiah, so here I come Phase Three.

Yeah for me

Singing Theologians

One of the values of our "harp and bowl" model is that we want to be a "singing seminary" (seminary is bible school). I've been thinking more than usual about this. How do we become singing theologians? How do we go from people who get together and sing around a verse to people who go deep in the Word? the answer is obvious. We go deep in the Word ourselves. Spending "long and loving hours meditating on the Word of God". Because at the end of the day, it's the Word that transforms our hearts, it's the Word that is eternal, it is the Word of God hidden in our hearts that keeps us from sinning.

I want the Word written on my heart, and it costs something - time! But the fruit is so worth it, I know I feel the most alive when I am in the Word and the Holy Spirit is teaching me things.

I want every person on our team to be able to preach on whatever Psalm we are studying. I want us to have the Word rooted in our hearts and cleansing our minds, being washed with the water of His Word.

I really want the Word written on my heart.
Amen, let's stand.