We need to stay in the presence of the Lord if we want to reflect God. If we want to reflect people...then we keep trying to reinact what others are doing. I truly believe that Holy Spirit wants to move in us as actively as Jesus is God!haha I'm not sure how else to say that. The Holy Spirit wants the freedom in our will to move and breathe. I am truly excited about what God is doing in us right now and how humble He is to really teach us about who He is and not get impatient with us. He is on the move we just need to make room for Him.

Watching this video really opened my eyes to the truth of seeking His face and being a reflection of Him. I'd love if you all would watch it as well.

The Seeker's Journey

Much love.

"God in His nature is humble. Without humility a god of infinite power would use His resources to impress rather than to transform. Without humility God would find no value in us, nor would He be concerned about our well-being. The realization that God, in all of His power and knowledge and wonder, is more humble than any of us is virtually beyond comprehension."

--Erwin McManus

It really makes me stop. Where is my heart at on the humility scale? How willing am I to care for others before myself? It's a somber thought that breaks my heart. God cannot use me unless I am humble but I generally try too hard to be humble to actually let Him show me what it means. God's grace is so beautiful.

Truth

Sometimes I wonder where the truth is at. Or more specifically why we feel the need to hide the truth. Most of us will say, "we don't want to offend anyone." Well, there are whole church movements started by false profits that have altered the truth because 'they don't want to offend anyone.' Why would we as the body of Christ want to follow in the steps of those preaching lies? Now, there is such a thing as being conscious of your audience. We need to be aware of who we are talking to when it comes to those who don't know God's love, who have chosen not to follow in His ways. They are held at a different standard...a whole other view point all together. But today I am talking about the church. Why do we feel as though we are going to offend our brothers and sisters in Christ by speaking Christ's truth into their lives?

For example: When we hide the truth of the Holy Spirit living inside of us we are keeping much needed knowledge and wisdom from those who are to be walking in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. With this particular 'subject,' keeping the truth to ourselves may very well cause fear in the lives of those around us. People truly fear the Holy Spirit purely because they have not been taught who He is. He is not a good feeling during worship or a heart-felt word, He is living and breathing inside of each of us that receive Christ as our own. He's not some mystical being that is irrelevant to today's times. He speaks every chance we give Him. He is God. Inside of us.

Now, I could go on and on about the truth of the Holy Spirit but I think you already get my point.haha I just want to challenge you, as a member of the Church, to speak out in truth. Not just a version of the truth, but the raw truth of who God is.

I don't say any of this to push buttons or to call anyone specific out. I want to say this in love, for us, as the Body, to not leave room for complacency...even if that means being uncomfortable.

blessings and adventures

Well I am sitting at the Akron airport waiting for my flight to Alabama. I feel so blessed to be able to travel down to visit some of my dearest friends and have a chance to relax. God is really blowing me away with this trip. It's just at the right time, as my seasonal job just finished and when I get back my new position in the Off the Wall ministry will begin. He's giving me some refreshment before this new season I believe!

Most of you are probably wondering what this new ministry is all about and how I got to be involved. Well, I'm not sure.haha I know what the ministry is about and generally what I will be doing but as to how this all happened I have no idea. God is just moving. Off the Wall is a discipleship ministry that brings in interns to raise them up as Godly men and women, in every aspect of their lives. So far there are only male interns but soon we will have girl interns as well! Two of my closest friends will be discipling the girls that come in, hopefully this will be happening in May!

My position in the ministry will be programming. I will be working one on one with one of the leaders to plan the different events and help them get the little things done so they can get all the other stuff done. It's very vague at this point if you haven't noticed.haha

Until the girl interns come in I will be living in the house with my 2 friends, to help with commute time and the community aspect. We believe it is very important to have a strong community within the ministry so everyone learning to live together will produce even more discipleship and teach us how to lead even better.

Some prayer requests with this new adventure are:

*a part time job
*financial support
*good communication between us friends while living together
*a cheap apartment or living conditions (for after May)
*smooth transition into my new position.=

Thanks for all your prayers and interest in what God is doing through me.

Much love.

Well, I have to apologize that I seem to have fallen off the face of the earth for the last few months. Life has been a little crazy and throwing curve balls left and right. I'll start off by telling you that I am home now. After much prayer and many conversations with those I trust, I believe this is the right thing for this season. God has spoken very clearly to just keep waiting. I'm not sure if I'm even waiting for an opportunity. I am solely waiting for Him. Though waiting is hard it is also a very sweet season to rely so wholly on God.

Obviously I don't know what my next step is but there are many doors that have opened up since I've been home. I feel like there is a specific place God is going to be sending me, and the other opportunities are more distractions than true open doors. Please be praying for me as I seek God's heart in this matter. Also that I am able to keep my focus on God and not the next ministry opportunity. I mean, He is the whole reason I'm doing this right?!lol I just know that in seasons like this it is so hard to not focus on what's next when I get that comfortable feeling at home. ("comfortable" really isn't comfortable for me.)

At the moment I am in Florida with my family. We're about to go on a cruise and just have some quality time. I love being with my family. I have to say that every single one of my family has inspired me in some way. Especially the Gingerich's. This weekend has reminded me of how blessed I am to have a family that lives in such faith. I am blessed to have been raised by and with such amazing people. I am so blessed.

Everything Good and New

God knows how to really get to my heart. He knows that I love surprises and I love to see Him show up in ways that I could never expect. It amazes me that He really cares about that and takes the time to love me the way I really receive it.

There are many things changing right now. I think my life is in the same seasonal cycle as the weather. It's a good thing I love fall because I am about to truly live out this season of transition and change in ways I never expected.

I will keep you all updated as more details unfold with the changes in my life.

Mucho love.

Love is the Theme

Worship is what we are made for, and to worship is to love. Not just to love God directly but to love Him through loving everyone else. We are all called worshipers but do we truly know how to worship? If the greatest commandment is love and the meaning of our lives is to love...then we are to LOVE. But how do we love? How do we live like Christ, loving everyone? We are to come to God and love Him, be intimate on a level that we never knew possible. Then, with unveiled faces, live that relationship out with everyone we encounter. This is not just about loving those we find unlovable in our flesh but, also about loving those we love with a new passion, a new purity, and unconditionally.

If we all pursued the life of Christ, the love of Christ, those around us could not doubt who we are and would deal with the true issue in their hearts instead of masking it with blame of the church.