In Over My Head

I have come to this place in my life 
I’m full but I’ve not satisfied 
This longing to have more of You 
I can feel it my heart is convinced
I’m thirsty my soul can’t be quenched
You already know this but still 
Come and do whatever You want to

I’m standing knee deep but I’m out where never been
I feel You coming and I hear Your voice on the wind

Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in
Let love come teach me who You are again 
Take me back to the place where my heart was only about You
And all I wanted was just to be with You 
Come and do whatever You want to

Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours 
Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours

Then You crash over me and I’ve lost control but I’m free
I’m going under, I’m in over my head
And You crash over me, I’m where You want me to be
I’m going under, I’m in over my head

Whether I sink, whether I swim
It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head
Whether I sink , whether I swim
It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head
I’m Beautifully in over my head
I’m Beautifully in over my head

God keeps placing the lyrics of this song on my heart. There is so much depth written in to the poetry above and every time I hear this song something in me breaks because I know someone else understands what is so heavy on my heart. 

There is a playlist on my ipod that I change up every now and then. I title it "Songs for a Season" because those are the kinds of songs I will add to that list. Songs God has taken and placed in front of me as a tool to teach me the things He needs to teach me in that season. 

Again, this song keeps being placed in front of me and this week I am going to try to unpack it in writing. This is mostly for my benefit but maybe, just maybe, It may benefit you as well. 

God of Wonders (Beyond My Imagination)

“Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder, at the mention of Your name…” (Revelation Song)

For the past few years, I have taken on a tradition with myself to ask God for a word for the year. That’s right, just a single word. Looking back, the results have been amazing to see how true each word of the year has been to that year. This year I kept thinking how vague my word of the year was, or so I thought at first, and I almost didn't believe that was the word.

Job 5:9

He performs wonders that can not be fathomed, and miracles that can not be counted.

Psalm 65:8

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders. Where morning dawns, where evening fades, You call forth songs of joy.

Wonder…This year is filled with so much wonder…For one thing, I really have no idea what to expect in the 12 months ahead. All I know is, things are going to happen this year beyond my imagination.

My church just finished a week of prayer. I went in to this week not knowing what to expect either. With 10 days of prayer behind me, I realize sometimes that is the best way to be with God. Waiting with hope and anticipation, with faith and willingness to pursue his presence, and a little wonder as to what he wants to do…Anything can happen. Yes, things did happen.

Nothing anyone can physically see when they look at me but I definitely feel stronger and bolder. My faith is stronger then ever. I also received new inspiration.  I feel inspired. Inspired to write…Inspired to grow…Inspired to see others grow…Inspired for my church…Inspired to take on the world around me, whatever that may be, Inspired to know what God has in store for my life in these next 12 months.

But little did I realize that there was something else God wanted me to take from this word. As I started to search it out in the Bible I realized something. Whenever you see the word "Wonder" it is usually followed by the word "Miracles."

This year is going to be a year full of Wonder and one reason for that is it is also going to be a year full of Miracles. Through these miracles will his power, glory, majesty and wonder be seen. God has given me so much faith to believe and to see this through. 10 days of prayer has ended but I know He’s not finished yet, he’s just getting started.

What Ties Me to Home…

 

Believe it or not, this passion began while I was on a mission trip. During my year as an intern at my church I had the opportunity to travel to Jamaica with seven other interns and it was an amazing trip!

We were there for ten days. we painted rooms in the church, served in an orphanage and just helped out where needed. Through all this, God spoke to us all.

While I was staying in Jamaica I got a new picture of community. This picture included open doors and open homes all day, every day, without condition. Then, as I was coming home, I received a revelation from God that that I never expected to receive. Something in me changed. the community I saw in Jamaica, that’s what I wanted to see at home.

My trip to Jamaica also made it very clear that right here in Langley, this is my mission field. The mission just looks a little different. Yes, you read right, I just called North America a mission field. Sometimes I wish we had more “mission trips from “third world countries” to North America and other “first world continents” cause there is something there that they have that they could teach us.

That is what I desire to see here in Canada. As I set up a new home for myself, it is something I think about near daily. Now, I live alone so keeping a clean house may seem a little more possible, but let me ask you something. Who notices the mess in your own home more than you? Should that be stopping us from being inviting and open? I know, as I write this, that this is way easier said then done but it shouldn’t be what keeps us from living the way that I have read over and over again here in Acts 2:42-47

The Believers Form a Community

⁴² All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper^[i]), and to prayer.

⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. ⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. ⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity^[j]— ⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

  Did you catch that at the end? how many were added to the church each day? and why was that? In the book of Acts I read of the community I saw when on my missions trip, the community I long to see here. People saw needs and they did what they could to help. People shared what they had and no one went with out. The church worshipped together and ate together. They devoted themselves to God’s word and to fellowship with each other and each day people were added to the church!

This is how Jesus lived when he was on earth. Others needs always went before his. Should that not be example enough for us?

We have more than enough to sustain us and yet why is it so hard to live this way?

This is my mission…what about you?

Staying Home

 

Home…

This is a blog for anyone out there who either has no idea what to do with their life, or, wishing for a different life, or for anyone who is having a hard time dealing with the fact that they are left at home reading the facebook updates and blog posts of their friends half way across the world.

I graduated five years ago. I live in Langley, BC, Canada. Since then I have seen many friends come and go. I have witnessed so many stories and have heard many awesome and exciting experiences. God is using people I grew up with all over the world. That is an awesome thought! It is so exciting to see what God is doing in these places, through my friends.  This blog is not to diminish any of these experiences. God does call people away from home and I celebrate with my friends who hear and obey that call. It isn’t always the easiest decision.

When a person leaves their home because they have heard God’s call somewhere, it is always so emphasized. There are so many travel blogs out there. Blogs about various mission trips outlining one’s experiences and how one can pray for the people in that region. As I said, this blog is not to diminish that at all. It is great and we need to pray for our world and the people God has called in to the world. But…we also need to be praying and thinking about the world right around us. Our Neighbours, co-workers, the cashier that rang through your groceries last week, the people we go to school with, family members and the people we call our friends.

The truth is while God calls some away from home to fulfill his call, Most of us are actually called to stay home to fulfill his call. We don’t usually read about those kind of “adventures” A lot of the time we don’t really see the things that happen around us every day as adventures. What’s so exciting about staying home after all? We would rather read the blogs and facebook updates of our friends and family half way across the world and wish we were there with them. To us that is a way more exciting way to fulfill God’s call for our life even if it isn’t right for us.

I am beginning this blog so I may tell my story and, through that, hopefully emphasize another calling. An option that most of us will indeed take because that is the option God has chosen for us. I am writing my story from my home city but this applies to anyone who feels stuck wherever they live. God has given me a heart to reach my country, Canada, my province, British Columbia, and my city, Langley.

If this is you, it is my deepest desire that you stop pining away for something that just may not be for you. The reason God has not called you half way across the world is because you have a job to do right where he has you. You may not have exciting blog posts to write or amazing pictures to post on your facebook account…..but if you are doing what God has called you to do, that is a testimony to those around you. That is a story to share.

This is my story all the way from my home…to yours…