Tribute to my Mom!

Today is my mother's birthday and I just wanted to post a couple things that I am thankful for about her that have helped to shape who I am as a woman.

I had a wonderful childhood and learned so much from my mom about how I wanted to be when I grew up. She is an amazing cook, which inspires me. She is one of the most creative people I know, which I have always wanted to emulate. She is an artist, which I wish I could be! (drawings, sketches, paintings). She can clean a house like nobody's business, which is why I am so meticulus at getting every nook and cranny. She is organized, which I have taken after to the point of near OCD - I love compartments! And she is a gift giver, which I have taken upon myself to love people in the same way!

She spent so much time teaching me things about being a woman, about life, and about the practical things of life. I'd like to think I would make a great wife and mother some day because I've had such an amazing example.

Christmases were amazing with all the planning and preparation that my parents put into the event.....and Easter was my favorite because of the weather, the season, the songs at church, the coloring of eggs, and the baskets, oh the baskets.....my mom put together the most wonderful baskets....they were so cherished....she always remembered our very favorite candy and just put so much effort into making them special!



Then there was Halloween...we carved pumpkins and gave out candy, but my mom made some amazing costumes from scratch for us! There was an elephant, a clown, and here's the infamous bunny costume! What fun we had!



I studied my mom's cooking and to this day still consult her about various recipes.....everything she makes tastes amazing and I always love visiting home and having her make me wonderful breakfasts in the morning....thanks mom!



The stories she told of her childhood would always intrigue me...the horses, the farm, 5 brothers and a sister, cows, etc.....here is my favorite picture from her youth:



My mom made childhood fun. And now she makes adulthood fun! She spoils her grandchildren and tells them vibrant and colorful stories. She plays richly with them and gives them so much of her time. I'm so glad that they will know so much of her that I know and remember from my upbringing!



She is amazing, wonderful, emulated, inspiring, teaching, and loved! She is a writer, storyteller, artist, creator, chef, mother, grandmother, confidant, dream-pursuer, and friend. She is the reason that I am so much of who I am today.



And now she is a graduate and a nurse! I'm so proud of you mom!





















I hope to be a mom someday. And I want to be just like mine! I love you mom! Happy birthday!

Love your daughter,
Kristen Beth

Wrecked and Restored - thoughts during holy week!

The Lord has been teaching me about humility these days! As my pastor says: "I wanna learn to walk with my face to the carpet..."

It's never an easy lesson....in fact it's messy and involves much self-reflection, evaluation, severe struggle, and always repentence. But it carries with it freedom, grace, mercy, and extreme love and is coupled with trust, obedience, and surrender.

The moment I realized I was acting within my own strength and outside of God's will (which I'll admit, took a while for me to see clearly - scary!), I was filled with an urgency to "get right" with God like never before! Conviction came when I decided that I didn't want to settle for being "in the middle" of darkness and light, of wrong and right, or of who I was and who He's making me. I don't want to be "in the middle" of the altar and the door, the safety of the boat and the crashing waves, His will and my plans, my faith and my hands......I only want to be in the middle of His PRESENCE!

I've tasted and seen that the LORD IS GOOD! I've been to the mountaintop! I've feasted at the table! I've seen the land of milk and honey! I know that there is abundant life! I will not compromise or settle for the middle, for less than His best, for anything other than His dreams for my life! I trust that they are better than ANYTHING I can ever think of or imagine!

The road here was not easy and I am not proud of things I've done in straying from my Savior. It is so true of the ancient hymn that we are "prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love..."

Praise God that we can come to Him and beg: "Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above!"

So, during this holy week of reflection on the cross, the crucifixion, the death of our Savior for our wretchedness......He has shown me things that He wants me to "die" to.....to put to death in me....to crucify in my old nature....

But He doesn't ask me to STAY there.....in the death of things.....He offers LIFE.....a resurrected life of abundance! We can identify with the crucifixion so that we can live in amazement of the resurrection! What a mighty God we serve!

In the past 10 days, the Lord has wrecked and restored me.....and the process is ongoing! It's a daily wrecking sometimes.....but I have to suffer through it so that He may receive the glory on the other side! So that I may boast in His restoration of my brokenness. So that in humilty I can know the strength and POWER of His unfailing and everlasting LOVE!

Be willing to let God do ANYTHING that He needs to do in you so that He can do EVERYTHING He wants to do through you! I guarantee it's always worth it! There's a harvest to be gathered.....the workers are few! Prepare yourself for MORE of God this week before Easter. Be ready for His wrecking and restoring....to God be the glory!

Here is a song that has resonated in me today....it's called "Have Your Way" by Andrew Peterson. It's off his latest album called "Resurrection Letters Vol. II"!
The lyrics are such a beautiful prayer of surrender and humilty!

Have Your Way

Father, hear me now when I am humbled
I fear that I will soon forget
Now I have no stength to stand and stumble
I have no wish to leave You yet
Oh Holy Father, hear me now
When flesh is strong and spirit weak
Please break my back when I won't bow
Won't You have Your way with me

Father, hear me now when I am humbled
When I am bent with holy shame
All the lies that I believed have crumbled
The blood of Christ my only plea
I cannot trust my own designs
My heart is prone to disobey
So listen Lord while there is time
Chain me fast if I won't stay
Take my life and have Your way

Please hear me Lord this blessed hour
When sin has loosed it's hold on me
Thy mercy is a mighty tower
So why should I not trust in Thee
Father have Your way with me

An Arrow Pointing Toward Heaven

My dear friend, and saint, Ivar Overgaard, went home to be with the Lord this morning. My initial shock was heart-stabbing and grief. My next thought was peace and elation that He can know the Lord fully now, there is no dim glass to look through to see the Shikinah glory of our Maker! What fun, to dance before the throne of the Most High!

Ivar was key to my first overseas visit to Norway. He made sure that I saw the amazing sights of the Norway mountains and fjords, and that I tasted the foods of the best of Norway culture. He wound around dangerous roads as we passed through mountains and stopped EVERY time we asked to get out to roam and take pictures. He was the pastor of a local church and an amazing husband, father, and grandfather.

His spirit was gentle and kindred. He spent countless hours translating everything to us in English that the Norwegians were saying, and then translating to the Norwegians what we had to say. By week's end, his mind was exhausted and he was thinking in two languages! We had a good laugh over it!

I just recently had the pleasure of spending a second weekend at the "college of prayer" here in Atlanta, where Ivar and his wife, Kari, traveled the distance to be here. I had the pleasure of praying exclusively with them and of imparting them off on the journey home with annointing and power. We had an amazing weekend reminicing of the Norwary experience and it was such a blessing to create more memories together.

Ivar made a tremendous impact on my life and I will never forget his kindness and goodness. He went easily in his sleep. I can only think that maybe the Lord was jealous for him to come Home. But I thank God for the legacy he left with us of such a powerful example of a man after God's own heart. He will be missed. I will cry. And then I will try my grandest to follow in his example and be another "arrow pointing toward heaven!"

Goodbye my friend, goodbye.

How He Loves Us!

This video is amazing and the song is powerful! Enjoy! And wait until the end......it's worth it!



How He Loves Us - Kim Walker

He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

That he loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

New Year, New Me!

I have high hopes and expectations for this year! I expect to fall. I expect to fail. I expect to love. I expect to lose. I expect to grow, change, and learn. I expect God to continue to crucify my old nature. I expect Resurrection! I expect suffering. I expect abundant life! I expect the kingdom to advance and I expect the Lord to give me work to do. I expect tears and I expect joy!

I expect to blog more, complain less, visit more, pray more, love more...eat less, excercise more, listen more, talk less, dance more, stumble less, sing more. I expect to capture many new sunsets, travel, enjoy God's creation, and bless others. I expect to testify, witness, boast in Christ, devour His word, and enjoy His Presence! I expect to surrender and I expect to walk in freedom!

In lieu of resolutions (which I have, but are typically the same each year - get in shape, grow closer to God, and get out of debt)....here are the lyrics to 2 songs that sum up my heart's desire for 2009! Both of them I heard over Christmas. The first is a Vineyard song that my sister Laura re-introduced me to, and the second is a song I heard at the Vineyard Church in Ann Arbor during worship. It's by Jared Anderson. Hope you enjoy - both are on itunes and I highly recommend them! If you read through the lyrics of Ready Now, read all of the repeated lines and ask yourself: Are you ready now?.....for God to do what He wills?

Invitation Fountain- Vineyard Music

All who are weak
All who are weary
Come to the rock
Come to the fountain
All who have sailed
On the rivers of heartache
Come to the sea
Come on be set free

If You lead me Lord I will follow
Where You lead me Lord I will go
Come and heal me Lord I will follow
Where You lead me Lord I will go
I will go, I will go

Ready Now - Jared Anderson

You come like you promised you would
I want to surrender for good
I know that i need you
And i dont want to keep living life alone

So take my heart
and make it new
make it true
And make it like you
Take my hands
I lift them high
They're yours not mine to do
Do what you will
Do what you will
Do what you will

I feel like a blind man in you sight
I know that im wicked in your eyes
So wash me and make me shine like the sun
I want to tell everyone
that you're the only one

So take my heart
And make it new
Make it true
And make it like you
Take my hands
I lift them high
They're yours not mine to do
Do what you will
Do what you will
Do what you will

Im ready now
Im ready now
Im ready now
Do what you will
Im ready now
Im ready now
Im ready now
Im ready now
Im ready now
Im ready now
Do what you will
Im ready now
Im ready now
Im ready now

facedown

I read a recent blog from a friend of mine talking about a Beth Moore bible study she is doing. One of the disciplines that Beth Moore is asking them to do during this study is to actually get down on their faces to pray in their group meeting time. The host of the bible study thought her carpets were too dirty to actually try this right away, so she rented a steam cleaner from Giant Eagle and she and her husband scrubbed their carpets.

Think about all the times you pray and what your posture is during that prayer time.....I tend to pray while driving, laying in bed (often falling asleep), in the shower, doing dishes, lying on the couch. What kind of difference would it make to actually put my face to the carpet as an act of reverence to God and get uncomfortable so that I can focus completely on Him. It sounds revolutionary and humbling and an obvious statement of the seriousness of my petitions.

In this day and age, and hard time, we need to be serious about our prayers!

I'm going to try it and I'll let you know how it goes....any of you who try this, please let me know your thoughts and experiences! Honor God with your posture and receive the blessing of His presence when you find that He meets you facedown!

Matt Redman wrote a great song and a book about it. Here are the lyrics:

Welcomed in to the courts of the king,
I've been ushered into your presence.
Lord, I stand on your merciful gound,
Yet with every step tread with reverence.

There is none in heavens like you,,
And upon the earth, who's your equal?
You are far above, You're the highest of heights,
And i'm bowing down to exalt you.

And I'll fall facedown,
As Your glory shines around.
Yes i'll fall facedown,
As your glory shines around.

Let your glory shine around,
Let you glory shine around.
King of glory here be found,
King of glory.

October Summer

I just got back from Florida this past weekend and I feel so refreshed. I went to help start a College of Prayer campus (www.collegeofprayer.org) in a little town called Dunnellon, near Gainesville.

I arrived on Thursday afternoon and attended a 2 day time of prayer, teaching, worship, and fellowship for local leaders and pastors. I came ready to serve and excited to see what God had in store. I was able to share a couple of testimonies of freedom that opened up a doorway for many others to experience deliverance. I was able to bless the worship leader by helping with music during the communion time. I was able to spend sweet time in the Presence of the Living God with the body of Christ.

I left broken, changed, poured out, filled up, and restored.

I continued my weekend by finding a nearby island community on the Gulf of Mexico called Cedar Key. It was quite the small town, not a movie theater within 60 miles. I checked into a cottage and after realizing that my wireless wouldn't work and my cell phone was roaming, I felt disconnected to everyone, which was OK because I still felt totally connected to God!

It was a relief and ever so restful. I relaxed in my little cottage and flung wide the french doors so that I could hear the ocean water ebb and flow against the rocks, right outside my door. By the time I went to bed, the tide had reached my balcony's edge. I could hear the music from the nearby pub as people sang out their intoxication and toasted to the good times they wouldn't remember in the morning.

I woke up the next day and went for a beautiful, brisk walk along the shoreline of the Gulf. I watched as people began casting their fishing poles, planting themselves on rocks and docks, hoping for an exciting pull at the other end of their line. The anticipation, the waiting - to experience a few moments of elation. What patience and determination fisherman have.

As I kept walking, I saw a couple of butterflies dance and play with each other in the air. For a moment, I was captivated, and then.....I started noticing they were everywhere! On every flower, plant, tree, or bush there were literally dozens of butterflies. I started trying to capture them on camera, and as I thought about their beauty and their meaning of new life, my eyes welled up and my spirit soared, and I knew God loved me deep! I realized that the butterflies had been there on my first time around the block, but I hadn't noticed them. As soon as I SAW, they were everywhere. I thought about God's Presence and how it's always there and available, but we just don't always notice it or receive!

The wind from the day and the morning and the ocean was warm upon my face. I realized it was October and it still felt like summer. I knew it was cooling off in Georgia, but it was nice to have one more taste of summer.

The night before I spent my time chasing a sunset (one of my favorite past times) until I could find a clear view and watch it change in all of it's colors and glory.
I felt so much peace this weekend - a peace that truly did pass my understanding. I felt truly content, truly free, truly alive, and 100% satisfied in Jesus Christ, my Savior! It was like nothing I'd ever known. This was "resting" in Christ!

Praise God for His indescribable gifts!

Resurrection Letters, Vol. II

Andrew Peterson's long-awaited album is due out soon and I am going to see him in concert for the second time this year on Saturday.....

I found a place online where they play tracks from his new album before it's released and I've been soaking it up.....I can't wait to have the real thing!

At the concert in March, I learned that "Hosanna" means SAVE US! I blogged about it, I think, and how that meaning has changed my storybook picture of Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday......

Here is an excerpt from his blog that he wrote back in Oct. 2007 while still creating the album that posts the lyrics to one of the most rich and powerful songs on the album: Hosanna!

Somebody said that you have to preach the gospel to yourself daily. I hope this album will help people to do just that: to remind themselves of the gravity of their sin and the glory of God's mercy, of the promise that Death is nothing to fear, that resurrection is a worthy hope.

Hosanna

I am tangled up in contradiction
I am strangled by my own two hands
I am hunted by the hounds of addiction
Hosanna

I have lied to everyone who trusts me
I have tried to fall when I could stand
I have only loved the ones who love me
Hosanna

Oh, Hosanna
See the long awaited king
Come to set his people free
Oh, Hosanna
Come and tear the temple down
Raise it up on holy ground
Hosanna

I have struggled to remove this raiment
Tried to hide every shimmering strand
I contend with these ghosts and these hosts of bright angels
Hosanna
I have cursed the man that you have made me
I have nursed the beast that bays for my blood
I have run from the one who would save me
Hosanna


Oh, Hosanna
See the long awaited king
Come to set his people free
Oh, Hosanna
Come and tear the temple down
Raise it up on holy ground
Hosanna

We cry for blood
We take your life
Hosanna
We cry for blood
We take your life
It is blood and it is life that you have given

You have crushed beneath your heel the vile serpent
You have carried to the grave the black stain
You have torn apart the temple's holy curtain
You have beaten death at death's own game

Hosanna
Hail the long awaited king
Come to set his people free
(We cry) Oh, Hosanna
Come and tear this temple down
Raise it up on holy ground
Oh, Hosanna
I will lift my voice and sing
You have come and washed me clean
Hosanna

Jumping and Hugging

I was laying by the pool today drifting in and out of conscienceness, when I heard a kid in the pool talking to his friend. "I wish the whole ground was a trampoline", he said. "Then I would just jump everywhere!". I thought, what a neat idea......and one that at my age I just wouldn't think to think! I wish the earth was a trampoline too! I wanna jump everywhere! And then I realized how much I need to get back to the "fun" in life.....

I was at work the other day, and as I walked a child out to their parent, I witnessed a two-year-old walk boldly up to an unknown two-year-old, arms out-stretched, and almost pummeled the other over with a HUG! The receiving child just stood there, not knowing quite what to make of this gesture, but not avoiding it either. And I thought, it's too bad we can't just walk up to complete strangers and hug them without any reason, pretense, or even introduction.

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

"The humility of children is disarming, isn't it? There is no pride or prejudice. There are no inhibitions or hidden agendas. Undiluted humility. There is an Eden-like innocence that children possess that all of us crave."
- Mark Batterson from In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day

Wouldn't the world be a more fun and loving place if we did more jumping and hugging? Wouldn't our faith be less shaken if we got back to our child-like hearts! We've much to learn from the young ones........much to learn.

*dedicated to the young ones in my life that are so precious: Lindsey, Jacob, Sophia, Calvin, Stephen, Alex, Heidi, Caroline, Chloe, Hok'sila, Connor, etc...and to all the new lives that are just entering or about to enter this crazy world!

Belated Birthday Blessings

My sister's birthday was last Sunday.....I called her, but I wanted to do more.....since she is the most faithful reader of this blog, I will pay tribute to Laura Jean, who is also one of my bestest friends!

She is someone I can tell anything to, someone whom I laugh with regularly, and talk to so often even though miles separate us......I can see her just a few times per year and feel like no time has passed.....she gets me, she knows me, and she loves me anyway.....She is quite different from me, but that just makes the relationship stronger as we learn how to embrace one another despite them.....

She loves the Lord and it has been a blessing to be sisters in flesh and sisters in spirit......She is leaving for Ethiopia on Friday 8/8/08 (same day as the Olympics start!) and I am so excited for her trip......This is her second mission trip there, and I would ask anyone who reads this to please join me in lifting her up and covering her with prayer.....she will be there for 10 days!

I pray that her experiences would be different than the last trip, that they would challenge and change her and draw her even closer to her Saviour....I pray that the light of Christ in her would affect and radiate onto others and that she would make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel......I pray that God would go before the team and prepare the hearts to receive the message of the good news of Christ Jesus.......I pray for traveling mercies and safety, for an abundance of love, for a showering of peace, and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to annoint the team of faithful and devoted laborers.....I pray that she would stand firm in fullness of Christ, suited in the armor of God.....

"Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples." Psalm 96:3

Laura - "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

Thank you for your obedience to Christ to "go and make disciples in all nations".....God bless you and fill you with His Presence and Spirit.....I love you Laura....Happy Belated Birthday! You are in my thoughts and prayers!

Your sister, Kristen